Thousands Across at Least 20 Villages in Jhenaidah and Chuadanga Risk Their Lives on Pothole-Ridden Road

The contractor has not started the work, even though the work order and contract period have ended. As a result, the repair of an important road leading to the village of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah has remained delayed for a long time.

The road is in very poor condition and full of potholes. Thousands of people from at least 20 villages in Jhenaidah and Chuadanga districts use this road, risking their lives.

Mostafizur Rahman, nephew of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman, said the road connecting to Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman’s village, Khordda Khalishpur, in Maheshpur upazila has been in poor condition for more than four years. The road surface has broken down, and the bricks and stones have come out. Many small and large potholes have formed across the road. Even light rain fills these holes with water and turns them into mud. This makes the road unsuitable for vehicles. As a result, vehicles such as vans, easy bikes and motorcycles often meet with accidents.

He also said that a tender was invited on September 24 last year to repair the road and reduce people’s suffering. As per the rules, the work was given to contractor Rafiqul Islam. But after getting the work order, he kept delaying the work for different reasons instead of starting it. Finally, the fixed time for the work ended on April 13.

Local college teacher Shamim Hossain said thousands of people, including students, use this road every day. Vehicles often overturn and cause accidents because of the potholes. He said taking a pregnant woman or a seriously ill patient to hospital has become a matter of life and death.
Local resident Abdul Gafur said people from around 20 villages regularly use this road in Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman’s village. These villages include areas under the SBK and Sabdalpur unions of Jhenaidah and the Andulbaria and Raypur unions of Jibannagar upazila in Chuadanga. He said travelling on the road has now become extremely difficult.

Maheshpur Upazila Engineer Md. Azizul Haque said the contract with the contractor had been officially cancelled because he did not start the work within the fixed time. He said the process of inviting a new tender for the road repair is now underway. The process will be completed soon, and the repair work will begin through a new contractor.