Lone road link under threat
Erosion by river devours half of Barunagaon-Bograpara road that links five villages with Thakurgaon district headquarters
Thousands of people of five villages have to take risky journey on the partly eroded Barunagaon-Bograpara road to go to Thakurgaon town, thanks to the negligence of authorities concerned.Photo: STAR
Erosion by River Shenua threatens the lone road link between the district headquarters and five villages. The river has already devoured almost half of the mud road, 2-3 km away from the district town. Erosion took an alarming turn as the river swelled due to downpour in the last few days. Amid serious risks, hundreds of villagers including school students of Barunagaon, Bograpara, Memberpara, Pabnapara and Shenuapara under Sadar upazila are using the nearly collapsed Barunagaon-Bograpara road as they have no alternative to reaching Thakurgaon town. Despite repeated requests and proposals to build a road protection embankment, the authorities concerned are yet to take any effective step in this regard due to unknown reason. Political leaders made pledges before every election to build the embankment but to no effect yet, said the villagers. During a recent visit, this correspondent saw about 200 meters of the road from Shenua Bridge to Bograpara point washed away at different places in the last few years. Power tillers, tractors with agricultural goods were also plying the risky road as they had no alternative way. Rahima Khatun, 13, of Bograpara village in Sadar upazila, who attends school in Thakurgaon municipality area, told this correspondent that they use the road in monsoon amid risk and fear. "Last year, our two friends -- Kajol and Shakila -- fell into the river with bi-cycle while they were returning home from school. They could not walk for many days after the accident", Rahima said. Monirul Huda Helal, a farmer of Barunagaon village under Sadar upazila, said they cannot carry agricultural produces on vehicles as the condition of the road is very risky. We have to count more fare than real charge to our goods to the town as the drivers often refuse to go by the road, he said. Last year, locals saved the road from further collapse by putting sand bags and bamboo fence in the breached portions. Contacted, executive engineer of Thakurgaon Water Development Board Noimur Rahman told this correspondent that they had sent a project proposal to repair the road protection embankment to the higher authorities. The work will start soon after its approval, he said.
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