Road remains unpaved for 30 years in Bauphal

An approximately 1,800-metre earthen road in Madanpura Union of Bauphal upazila, Patuakhali, has remained unpaved for nearly 30 years, causing severe hardship for thousands of residents of four villages.

The road runs from Badr Ali Khan Jame Mosque in Madhya Madanpura to Sonamuddin Mridha Secondary School in West Majhpara village. Although earthwork was carried out on the road around three decades ago, no significant development has taken place since then.

Md Faisal Farazi, sub-assistant engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Bauphal, said the road would be inspected to assess the possibility of paving it.

“Necessary measures will be taken after the inspection,” he said.
The road has now become almost unusable due to years of neglect and a lack of proper repairs.

Numerous potholes have developed along the route, while rainwater has turned several sections into deep mud. In some places, the mud is reportedly knee-deep.

Local residents have been forced to use makeshift paths created with sandbags along the roadside. The slippery conditions frequently cause people to fall and sustain injuries, they said.

The worst affected are students, patients, pregnant women, children and elderly people. Students and teachers of Sonamuddin Mridha Secondary School and several other educational institutions use the road every day.

During the rainy season, however, many students struggle to reach school, resulting in lower attendance.

Local resident Md Kamal Munshi said no vehicles can now travel along the road. Taking sick people to hospital has also become a major challenge.

“Pregnant women, children and elderly people suffer the most. In emergencies, patients often have to be carried on people’s shoulders or transported by other means across the worst sections of the road,” he said.

Another resident, Md Niaz Khan, said the road was built with earth nearly 30 years ago, but successive governments had failed to improve it.

“We urge the authorities to pave the road immediately, considering the suffering of thousands of people from four villages,” he said.

Md Mosharraf Hossain, head teacher of Sonamuddin Mridha Secondary School, said the road is the main communication route for people from four villages.

“Students and teachers use the road every day. During the rainy season, it becomes knee-deep in mud, making it extremely difficult for students to attend school.

As a result, attendance also declines. The road needs to be constructed urgently to ensure a normal educational environment,” he said.