JHALOKATHI, Aug 03 (V7N) — Residents of Rajapur upazila in Bangladesh's southern Jhalokathi district formed a human chain on Sunday, demanding the reconstruction and upgrading of a long-neglected road that they say has caused hardship for thousands of people for more than two decades.
The demonstration was held at around 11:00 a.m. on the road in front of Kadamtala Government Primary School and Tarabunia Wahedia Dakhil Madrasa in Ward No. 5 of Saturia Union. Participants included local residents, elected representatives, teachers, guardians and community leaders.
According to the demonstrators, the road stretches approximately 3.1 kilometres from Amtala Bazar to Pangashiar Par under the jurisdiction of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). They said only about one kilometre of the road was paved with brick soling in 2002, while the remaining two kilometres have remained unpaved.
Residents alleged that even light rainfall turns the earthen section into deep mud, making the road difficult or impossible to use for much of the year.
Speakers at the programme also expressed concern over the condition of infrastructure along the route. They said the road includes three small bridges and eight culverts, three of which are now in a severely deteriorated condition and pose potential safety risks to commuters.
The protesters said the road serves several educational institutions, including Kadamtala Government Primary School, Tarabunia Wahedia Dakhil Madrasa and South Tarabunia Government Primary School, as well as religious and community facilities. They estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 people use the road every day.
Local residents said the poor condition of the road has disrupted students' access to schools, delayed the transportation of patients to healthcare facilities and increased the cost and time required for farmers to transport agricultural produce to markets. During the monsoon season, they said, vehicle movement is frequently suspended because of the road's condition.
They also noted that, in addition to residents of Rajapur, thousands of people from neighbouring Kawkhali upazila rely on the route for travel to Rajapur and Bhandaria upazilas, making it an important regional transport link.
Among those who addressed the gathering were Saturia Union Parishad member Humayun Kazi, former Union Parishad member Mostafizur Rahman Bacchu, former BNP Ward No. 7 President Nurul Islam, Tarabunia Wahedia Dakhil Madrasa Superintendent Atikur Rahman, Kadamtala Government Primary School Head Teacher Millad Hossain and local community representative Abdul Quddus.
The speakers called on the relevant authorities to begin immediate work to pave the road, reconstruct the damaged culverts and carry out the necessary infrastructure improvements. They warned that larger protest programmes could follow if no action is taken.
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