Portion of road collapses

About 100 metre portion of an important road collapsed about a week ago following illegal sand extraction from a nearby canal in Chitalmari upazila.

Road communication between Nalua Bazar and Bhola under Barabaria union in the upazila have been disrupted for the last one week due to the collapse.

Moreover, people living in the nearby areas have been suffering immensely following the disruption of communication.

Photo: Star

Meanwhile, another half a kilometre portion of the road is at the verge of collapse any time.

As a result, small vehicles like motorbikes, autos-rickshaws, vans and bicycles are plying the road with risk of accident while movement of heavy vehicles have been stopped completely since the collapse.

The upazila administration recently seized two dredgers used in the illegal sand extraction at different places.

Local people alleged that Barabaria Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Sardar Masudur Rahman has been extracting sand illegally from the canal for long that led to the collapse of the important road.

Chairman Masudur, however, refuted the allegation and said he knew nothing about the sand extraction.

According to the villages, a small canal, locally called Haq Katakhal, is flowing besides the four-kilometre-long Nalua-Bhola road.

Locals said they first witnessed some large cracks in front of one Mohammad Ali's house on December 11 and within three days about 100 metres portion of the road collapsed on the canal.

If such act continues for few more days the road might completely collapse soon, villagers alleged.

Liton, a resident of Gola area, said hired labourers of UP Chairman Masudur illegally extracted about 4.5 lakh squire-feet sand from the canal in front of his house and sold those at different places including Gola graveyard.

He said if the illegal sand extraction continues his house will also collapse in the canal.

Some other locals including one Bulbul Sikder of the area said they have urged Masudur several times to stop the heinous act, but never pay heed to their call.

A woman and her minor child sustained injuries when an auto-rickshaw skidded from the damaged portion of the road a few days ago, locals said, adding that they demand urgent repair of the important road and punishment of the culprit involved in the illegal sand lifting.

Chitalmari Upazila Parishad Vice-Chairman (female) Sabera Kamal Swapna said they have already visited the area witnessed that local people are suffering due to the road collapsed.

Contacted, Chairman Masudur said his political rivals are spreading such propaganda to harm his personal image.

Chitalmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Maruful Alam said they have seized two locally-made dredgers during a recent drive but failed to arrest the owner of the machines.