Prabir Das

Mohammad Sohel, an employee at a firm, did not get metro tickets after waiting in a long queue for around three hours at Agargaon Station yesterday.

People have been queueing since early morning to get a ride on the metro rail. However, many had to return after failing to secure tickets.

Tanveer and Hamza—both students of class nine, live in Gopibagh. Both of them also like cycling. But their parents never allowed them to go to the main roads or highways with bicycles in fear of accidents.

Despite suspension of ridesharing services via motorcycles due to health safety concerns, bikers can still be seen with their vehicles parked at intersections in the capital, waving to potential passengers, and with some success too, as many commuters still choose the verbal-contract service despite the risks associated.

Hill cutting for illegal establishments is one of the key reasons behind the recent series of landslides in Rangamati, the worst in a decade that killed at least 120 people. Even after the landslides, many such dangerous and risky establishments have been found in the district.

The situation in Rangamati, that witnessed a devastating series of landslides in a decade which claimed 108 lives, is turning grave. Barely two days have passed and food, power and fuel crisis has struck the district. With road links off and monsoon weather, fears are on that things might worsen.

Now, the affected villages resemble a deserted wasteland. Villagers say they cannot yet muster the courage to return to their lands, where they would have to start from scratch.