Diversion road now sorrow of Baliadangi

Movement of traffic on Baliadangi-Lahiri road in the district has been cut off since last Sunday following damage to a diversion road in Banliadangi upazila, causing untold sufferings to the people. 

The road at village Jaunia was damaged due to heavy downpour.

The people of Paria, Charol and Dhantola unions are suffering much as the road is their only means of communication with the upazila headquarters as well as other parts of the country.  

Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) floated a tender last year for construction of a 34-metre concrete bridge to replace the old iron-bridge over Nohona River at Jaunia village.

Contractor Khairul Kabir Rana got work order on March 21 in 2015, to construct the bridge at a cost of Tk 1.8 crore,  which is scheduled to be completed by March 20, 2017.

The contractor dismantled the iron bridge and built a diversion road on the western side of the bridge.

Khatibar Rahman, 50, of Jaunia village said the diversion road collapsed during rain as the contractor did not keep enough space for the river water to pass.

Majibar Rahman, 45, of Shahbajpur village said the people are to travel an additional eight to nine kilometers on a muddy road to go to upazila headquarters.

Representative of the contractor SMA Moin said they would build the diversion road after the water recedes.

Upazila Engineer Mainul Islam told this correspondent over cellphone that the diversion road is temporary and it would be rebuilt after the water level falls.