Sunamganj road deteriorates within eight months of renovation

The British-Bangla Bazar Road in Doarabazar upazila of Sunamganj has fallen into disrepair less than eight months after renovation, with damaged pavement and numerous potholes causing suffering for commuters and vehicle drivers.
The road, an important route to one of the upazila’s largest markets and the Banshatola tourist centre, has developed potholes as its asphalt and stone surfacing have peeled off. Rainwater accumulates in the holes, making the road muddy and increasing the risk of accidents. Local residents have alleged irregularities in the renovation work, blaming the use of substandard materials and inadequate supervision for the road’s rapid deterioration.
According to sources, pothole repairs were carried out in January this year with Tk20 lakh allocated by the Doarabazar Upazila Parishad and another Tk17 lakh by Banglabazar Union Parishad under the supervision of the upazila office of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).
Residents, including Latif Mia and Arman Ahmed, alleged that construction irregularities were noticed from the beginning. They claimed that insufficient cement and impure sand were used in the work, while some welding was done without reinforcing rods.
They said local people had stopped the work after allegations of irregularities and evidence circulated on social media. Work resumed after assurances that it would be completed properly, they added. Pedestrian Abdul Qayyum said the road had failed to last even a year despite substantial public expenditure.
“The road was renovated for the convenience of people, but negligence by the authorities has left it in a dilapidated condition again. This is a waste of public money,” he said.
Local businessman Abul Kashem and others demanded immediate repairs, saying the road was important for residents and traders and that its poor condition was causing daily hardship.
CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver Jasim Uddin said driving on the road was damaging vehicles and forcing drivers to spend money on repairs. Passengers also faced difficulties, with accidents occurring frequently, he added.
Another auto-rickshaw driver, Salam Mia, said broken pavement and potholes had made it difficult to transport passengers safely.
Upazila Engineer Abdul Hamid of LGED, however, said the renovation work was completed according to regulations. Potholes had developed in new locations, and an allocation had been sought to address the problem, he added.