Sufferings unbounded

Thousands have been suffering immensely since October 20 when flash floods washed away a 610-meter-long section of flood bypass in Doani area of Lalmonirhat.

The bypass is an integral part of the Teesta barrage and direct road link between Nilphamari and Burimari land port in Lalmonirhat. 

While visiting the site recently, different contractors, engaged by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), were seen conducting repair work on the bypass.

As dredgers were being used to fill up five to six feet depth of the site with sand, locals including children and elderly were seen struggling to wade in watery sand.

Many local children were seen carrying people's belongings or pushing their motorbikes in exchange for money.

Atiar Rahman, a government employee from Borokhata village in Lalmonirhat, has to use the road every day to commute between his house and workplace in Dimla upazila.  

With the scorching sun above, people have been falling sick all the time, while passing through the sand and mud on the road, he said.

Because not even the lightest of vehicles can pass through the place easily, valuable time is being wasted and money being spent to carry commodities, said Shafiuddin, a trader from Sadhur Bazar in Hatibandha upazila.

Farhanul Haque, vice president of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said highest priority should be given to repair the Nilphamari-Burimari-Lalmonirhat road via the Teesta barrage, as this is the shortest road to transport goods to and from the Burimari land port.

Contacted, Asfauddoula, BWDB's executive engineer for Dalia Division, said they already started urgent repair work on the flood bypass in order to restore road communications.

A Tk 1.5-crore proposal to reconstruct the bypass is also pending with the higher authorities, he also said.