Patuakhali: A nearly three-kilometre earthen road from Dhali Bazar to Naluabagi Secondary School in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali has remained in poor condition for years, causing severe hardship for thousands of residents, including schoolchildren, farmers, patients, and traders.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the road in the newly formed Naluabagi union becomes almost impassable after even light rain as it turns into a muddy stretch. During the monsoon, vehicles can hardly use the road, while pedestrians struggle to walk through knee-deep mud. Residents have expressed frustration that despite repeated demands to local representatives and the authorities concerned, a permanent solution is yet to come.
A recent incident highlighted the severity of the problem. Locals reported that relatives of an elderly sick man, Mahtab Farazi, faced extreme difficulty while taking him to the hospital because of the muddy road. He reportedly had to be carried on a bier, normally used to transport corpses, as no regular vehicle could easily pass through the road. Farmers also face challenges and financial losses as they spend extra money to transport paddy, jute, and other agricultural produce to markets during the rainy season.
The road serves as a vital communication link for residents of Naluabagi and several surrounding villages. It is used by students and teachers travelling to educational institutions and by farmers transporting their produce. Siddiqur Rahman, headteacher of Naluabagi Board Government Primary School, noted that student attendance drops during the rainy season due to the road conditions. Md Matiur Rahman, headteacher of Naluabagi Secondary School, added that books, notebooks, schoolbags, and uniforms often get dirty or damaged in the mud.
Local youth Abu Sayeed Howlader Rabbi expressed the community’s ongoing frustration, stating that their suffering seems to have no end during the monsoon. Abu Sayeed, panel chairman of the local Union Parishad, mentioned that several requests had been made to the upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) engineer to pave the road. Galachipa upazila LGED Engineer Mahbubur Rahman confirmed that a proposal has been sent to higher authorities to pave the road and that work will begin upon approval.