Locals decry sorry state of roads in Mirsarai

MIRSARAI, July 17 (UNB): Lack of repair and maintenance of a large number of decrepit roads across Mirsarai upazila has led to immense sufferings to local people.

Talking to locals and officials while visiting different areas, the UNB correspondent found that a good number of roads are in very bad shape and those need urgent repair works.

The most decrepit roads include Obaidul Haque Khandaker Sarak and Dakkhin Alinagar Golam Akbar Khandaker Sarak at Karerhat union, Baroigram Sarak and Badamtoli Kalibari Sarak at Hinguli union, Uzir Ali Sarak and Mubbe Ali Sarak at Zorarganj Union, Bosrat Ali Chowdhury Sarak at Dhum Union, Jhulonpol-Luddakhali Bhuiyan Sarak and Companynagar Sarak at Ichchakhali Union and Eastern Circular Sarak and Aburhat Bazar-Chhattar Bhuiyerhat-Bishumiarhat Sarak at Katachhara Union.

Deputy assistant engineer of the Local Government and Engineering Division (LGED) Abdul Latif said the upazila has a 1,261-km road network, of which 923 km is unpaved roads and 338 km paved roads.

Over 147 km of paved roads were constructed over the last five years, he said, adding that some 53 km of the 147 km roads have been repaired till now.

Among the important roads, 5 km-long Bosrat Ali Chowdhury road at Dhum union has become unfit even for walking as the paved road has not been repaired over the last 10 years. Built 50 years back, the road links the upazila with other districts, including adjacent Feni.

Locals said carpeting was done on Jhulonpol-Luddakhali Bhuiyan Sarak at Ichchakhali union in 2002 and added that the 4 km-long road now is now in an awful condition as crates and potholes developed on it for lack of repair.