Gazipur residents suffer due to dilapidated road

Residents of Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila are suffering due to about 1.25 kilometres of dilapidated road full of potholes.

Locals allege that no initiatives have been taken by the municipality to renovate Bir Muktijoddha Ismail Hossain Road in Maona union of the upazila in over seven years. As a result, the road full of potholes turns into a small canal during the rainy season.

Accidents often occur when rickshaws get stuck in potholes and overturn. Residents of Beraidorechala, Dokhla, Beltali, Kabarghata, and South Bartopa villages of Maona union, especially the students and teachers of schools and educational institutions and workers of various garment factories have to regularly use this road.

The 1.25 km road is under the jurisdiction of wards 5 and 7 of the municipality. At present, the road has become unfit for foot traffic, let alone traffic.

Ramiz Uddin, Councilor of Ward No 5 of Sreepur Municipality and Md Habibullah, Councilor of Ward No 7, both said that a contractor has been hired through tender in regards to repairing Bir Muktijodha Ismail Hossain road and the construction will begin soon.

This correspondent failed to reach Sreepur municipality Mayor Anishur Rahman over the phone in this regard.

According to the locals, several visits and written applications to renovate the road to the municipality mayor and councillors have failed so far.

However, the concerned councillors said that the contractor has been instructed to renovate the road through a separate tender.

On a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found the road had been waterlogged and muddy from a recent bout of rain.

Local resident Khorshed Alam said the road was paved about 10-15 years ago. The road gradually lost the pitched pavement due to heavy traffic.

“The road has now become impassable due to the accumulation of water in the potholes. The local residents including garment workers, teachers, and students who travel on this road are suffering every day,” he added.

Lutfa Begum, head teacher of Gilarchala Government Primary School, said students’ attendance has reduced due to the hassle of commuting.

“Many students slip and fall while walking by the road. It is especially hard for the younger students to travel. There are six other private educational institutions,” she said.

Local hardware trader Safiqul Islam said since there is no alternative road on this route, residents have no other option but to use this road.

He said, “When heavy vehicles go through this road while there is accumulated water, it splashes into my store and damaged products. Although the local councillor has repeatedly promised to renovate the road, it has not been done so in the last five to seven years.”

Kausar, Shamima, Parul and Rubel, students of Gilarchala Government Primary School, said it is very difficult for them to go to school every day through the dilapidated road as their uniforms get ruined often.

Auto rickshaw driver Mofiz Uddin said that rickshaws often have to be repaired as they are damaged from driving on a road full of potholes.

“We make a minuscule income. If I have to spend a portion of my already meagre income on additional repairs, how am supposed to fend for my family,” he said.

Rebekah, Jahangir, Khorshed and Akalima, workers of some local garment factories said since they cannot afford to take a rickshaw they have to traverse through muddy water to get to their workplaces.

Local pharmacy owner Abdul Hai Sikdar said his shop has seen a decreased number of customers as people often avoid taking the road.

Khandaker Asaduzzaman, the owner of a house next to the road, said, “I have to walk through muddy water to go to my office every day and I am tired of it. Many tenants have left because of the dilapidated road.”