JHALAKATHI, Aug 04 — Hundreds of students, teachers and local residents formed a human chain in Bangladesh's Jhalakathi district on Monday, demanding the immediate repair of a severely damaged road that they say has disrupted daily life and endangered public safety.
The hour-long demonstration was held in Bil Chhonauta village under Amua Union in Kathalia upazila, where participants called on the authorities to renovate the area's main road without delay.
According to local residents, the road has remained in poor condition for years and now contains more than 20 large potholes, making it nearly impassable. They said the situation worsens during the monsoon season, when rainwater and mud make travel hazardous.
Students from Tota Mia Secondary School and a nearby government primary school joined the protest alongside teachers and community members.
Many students said they face significant difficulties travelling to school every day. They alleged that children and cyclists frequently suffer injuries after slipping or falling on the damaged road, particularly during heavy rainfall.
Speaking at the event, Mohammad Riaz Khan, head teacher of Tota Mia Secondary School, said the deteriorating road has become a serious obstacle to education and emergency services.
"The condition of this road shows how inadequate infrastructure can disrupt an entire community. Our students are forced to risk their safety every day just to attend school, and transporting patients during emergencies has also become extremely difficult," he said.
Former head teacher Abdul Hai Panna said safe and reliable transportation is essential for ensuring access to education.
One of the student participants, Fatema Tuz Zohra, a tenth-grade student, said students regularly walk through mud and standing water to reach school, often damaging their uniforms and books.
Participants urged the government and local authorities to take immediate action to repair the road, saying improved infrastructure is essential for ensuring safe transportation, uninterrupted education and normal daily life in the area.
END/MAI/SMA/
