Thousands suffer as river devours road in Dinajpur

The Atrai River has devoured a stretch of road connecting Kashimnagar, Asrayagram and Adivasipara villages with Birganj upazila headquarters in the district in the last few days, much to the sufferings of nearly 20 thousand people of the three villages.

Ekramul Haque, a teacher at Jharbari Ahmadia Madrasa, said the students have been facing difficulties in attending their classes as the road has disappeared into the river. "Such a problem is common every year during rainy season, but this year the problem has become intensified," he added.

The villagers can't use any kind of transport on the road. They have to walk through crop fields.

Contacted, KM Kutub Uddin, chairman of Shotogram Union Council, said he has been trying to build an embankment, but cannot do it for shortage of funds.

It is really quite difficult for ailing people as they need to walk a long way over croplands to see a doctor. Farmers of the three villagers cannot take their crops to nearby markets due to the absence of the road, he added.

High officials of the local administration visited the spot and said they would make alternative arrangements.

The people of the affected upazilas urged the government and the local lawmaker, to build an embankment to protect their villages from river erosion.