Dilapidated Jawarani Road causes suffering for thousands in Lalmonirhat

Thousands of people are enduring daily hardship due to the deteriorating condition of the Jawarani road in Chaparhat of Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat.
Severely damaged by last year’s floods, the road has now become nearly impassable, while the long-neglected Kaliman Bridge poses a serious risk to commuters.
A recent visit to the area revealed that although around 2 kilometres of the road from Chaparhat to Kaliman Bridge is paved, it is riddled with large potholes and  broken in places. In many places, the carpeting has worn away, exposing dirt surfaces, while sections of the road have partially collapsed. The Kaliman Bridge itself is in a fragile state, with both sides damaged and unfit for safe movement.
Despite the risks, small transports continue to use the route, often leading to accidents. Locals fear that a major accident could occur at any time if the bridge collapses. In addition, the situation worsens further along the 1.5-kilometre stretch from Kaliman Bridge to Jawarani, which remains completely unpaved.
Residents said the condition of the road has further deteriorated ahead of the monsoon, turning it into a muddy and dangerous route. Thousands of commuters, including students, office-goers, and traders, face daily suffering. Schoolchildren take longer to reach their institutions, while workers and traders are forced to spend extra time and money using alternative routes.
Health risks have also increased, particularly for children and the elderly, due to unsafe walking conditions and frequent accidents caused by mud and large potholes. Many alleged that the lack of timely repair has left the area increasingly neglected over the years.
The road serves as a vital route, with nearly 10 lakh people using it daily to access Chaparhat, one of the largest haats in Lalmonirhat district. It is also the only connecting road to Chandrapur Bazar via Satirpar–Burirhat–Latabar–Botla, making its poor condition a major concern for the region.
Md Hasanuzzaman Jewel, an assistant professor at Aditmari Government Degree College and a resident of Latabar village, said the area has long been deprived of development due to political neglect. “Basic infrastructure, especially roads, has been ignored for years. Although some electricity issues were resolved through private initiative, road development remains stalled,” he said, expressing hope that the current government will take necessary steps.
Officials from the Road and Highways Department (RHD) in Lalmonirhat, reported that a project to rehabilitate the road has been approved but has yet to be implemented. They assured repair in the near future. Meanwhile, as the monsoon approaches, residents fear the condition could worsen further unless immediate action is taken.