People suffer in Sylhet as repairs needed for flood-hit roads

Three important stretches of road in Sylhet, one of which was badly damaged due to a flood in 2022, remain unrepaired, causing huge sufferings to the people, with locals alleging that women and school going children are the worst sufferers.

The repair works for the Gowainghat-Sonarhat border road have only progressed 17 per cent despite the deadline for completion ended in June. The local authorities have sought time extension for the Tk 100 million project.

Meanwhile, 40 per cent works have been completed on the 10 km Gowainghat-Salutikor road with the works under two packages worth Tk 270 million remained suspended for two months. Although this road is used by most visitors of various tourist destinations in the district, communication through it is being hampered often since 2018.

The Nabiganj-Markuli road in Habiganj has turned a death trap as there had been no measures to repair it since the 2022 floods caused huge damage. The inhabitants of a vast haor region in the district and adjacent areas are suffering extremely. Locals said that the authorities took no step regarding it as of yet.

Huge ditches developed at different places of the road, making it extremely difficult to use. Minor accidents are a common occurrence and students and women have to suffer, locals said.

This Nabiganj-Markuli road is the only road link with Nabiganj upazila town from Markuli and traders often face hardship as vehicles which transport their goods fall into accidents on it.

A trader of Markuli bazar said small trucks or pick ups often deny to transport goods on the road as there is a significant risk to get stuck at huge ditches. "We have to count additional money which raises the goods' price".

Lutfur Rahman, an auto rickshaw driver, said they have to use the road despite the risks of minor accidents as there is no alternative.

An upazila LGED official said a proposal for immediate repair of the important road had been sent to the authorities. They would float tender soon when it's approved, he added.

However, locals said they worry about when their sufferings would end and when the authorities would initiate necessary repair works.

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