The reparation works of a 10-kilometres long road has been stalled for over 10 years, leaving more than 100 thousand people of around 60 villages amidst untold sufferings.
The road, stretching from Nayabandar village to Kathalkhair village in Jagannathpur upazila under the district, is the only way of communication with outside world for the people of two unions, Syedpur and Asharkandi.
Executive engineer of Sunamganj Local Government Engineering Department Mohammad Iqbal Ahmed said, “The road is a portion of Syedpur-Goalbazar highway. The reparation work is stalled for a long time as the appointed contractor moved to court claiming extra payment than actual due. The court’s verdict is due in the next week. After the verdfict is delivered, we shall start the reparation work according to the court as soon as possible.”
Locals said the 10-kilometre road is the only way of communication – for more than 100 thousand people of Syedpur and Asharkandi unions – to Jagannathpur town, divisional city Sylhet and capital city Dhaka. More than 200 ditches have been created on the road, making it almost impossible to ply any kind of vehicles on it.
Nayabandar Truck, CNG and Auto-rickshaw Oikya Parishad President Mohammad Faruq Ahmed said, “Transport workers have carried out various types of protest programmes including human chain and strike, but in vain. Until now there is no sign of hope.”
Leguna driver Habir Mian said, “This road is a hell for us. Those who are bound to drive on a dilapidated road full of hundreds of big and small ditches know what a risk they take. It is very tough to imagine which ditch is how much deep, that’s why vehicles stuck in ditches is a everyday scene on the road.”
Expatriate Ibrahim Mian lives in London. Talking to Bangla Tribune he said, “We expatriates come to Bangladesh being attracted by the motherland, but due to the dilapidated condition of the road we are forced to visit our village home alone, leaving our family behind at Sylhet.
Billal Mian of Syedpur village observed those who dare to tread on this road take risk of losing their lives.
Echoing the same apprehension, CNG driver Aman Mian said, “For 10 years our lives are at stake while on duty, but no hope of light is still visible.”