Sylhet Bureau :
Construction of 8-km Tahirpur-Badaghat road could not be completed even in 28 years due to negligence of the authority concerned although it is the only means of communication with the vast areas of Tahirpur upazila headquarters of Sunamganj.
Began in 1993, the construction of the important road remained incomplete as yet causing much inconveniences to over 0.1 million (one lakh) people of the remote frontier habitats. Small traders also have to suffer a lot while the sufferings go worse during the monsoon every year since it’s a haor region.
In addition to the normal communication, the important road plays a vital role in linking three land customs stations– Barchhara, Charagan and Bagli on the Meghalaya border. The imported limestone, stones, etc. are transported through this road while traders have to use the same for transporting sands and stones from the Jaduakata river.
On the other hand, tourist spots like Siraj Lake, Shimul Bagan, Borogope Tila, Lakmachhara, etc. are nearby. The two-kilometre portion from Hosnarghat to Patargaon on the road still remained kutcha while one km of that has to be crossed by small boats during the monsoon. The remaining one km is also in the worst state.
Due to rain every year the approach road of the small bridge at Takatukia gets risky for the pedestrians. Commercially-run motorbikers also suffer much in travelling the 5km road from Patargaon to Badaghat portion, locals alleged. The suffering of the women and children is extreme, they added.
Headmaster of the Chandpur Government Primary School on the Meghalayan foothills Serin Salmar said, “We have to face untold sufferings but there is no alternative. Some bikers, who run commercially on the road expressed serious annoyance due to the innumerable ditches on the road at places.
Many of them have to stop the service often during monsoon.”
Badaghat Bazaar Bonik Samity President Selim Haider said, “Cost of day to day items and necessary goods go up due to high transport cost. He demanded immediate steps for completing the road construction works.”
An official at the LGED said, “The road gets damaged every year due to heavy rains. A revised proposal for the road’s reconstruction has been awaiting approval from the higher authority while a bridge would also be constructed on the eroded part of it.”
