MEHERPUR, Jan 14: Unabated traffic jam and footpath shopping are causing immense sufferings to dwellers of the municipality in the district.
Due to traffic congestion and reckless plying of different vehicles including battery-powered easy-bike, van and rickshaw, accidents are occurring on the main roads frequently.
There is only one narrow road from Boro Bazar to District Judge Court in Meherpur, a 155-year-old British-era municipality.
Pedestrian movement has almost been impossible.
Unscrupulous traders have taken over footpaths on both sides of the road. They are doing businesses by displaying signboards and products.
The drainage system of the municipality is along the road. While cleaning drains, clay is removed and dumped on the roadside.
Stench comes out and spoils the normal environment. Domestic cattle can also be seen lying on the road.
Municipal authorities do not seem to be very careful in resolving these citizen problems.
Municipal authorities have given permission to nearly 1,000 easy-bikes to ply in the town. But according to District Easy-Bike Drivers Association, on an average, over 2,000 easy-bikes are entering the town every day from 18 unions of the district. And, 3,000 battery-powered easy-bike, van, and rickshaw ply on that two-kilometre main road every day; and along with these, risky illegal shallow engine-powered power tillers also create trouble.
Many are seen standing on the road and doing businesses by displaying green coconuts and other fruits on rickshaw and vans.
Noman Sheikh, a clothe seller at Boro Bazar intersection. Most of his shop space is in the middle of the road. Large vehicles, trucks, buses hit the front of his shop numerous times.
Sujan Mia, an employee of the shop, said, people suffer a lot while travelling on the road. Especially easy-bikes create traffic jam mostly. Easy-bikes are stopped or rotated wherever they want on the road. Sometimes, altercation and scuffling occur between pedestrians and easy-bike drivers.
If so many trucks arrive near the town's Zaman Garments from the Bara Bazar towards Court Para, the traffic comes to a standstill for a couple of hours. The municipal authorities said, the municipality has discussed several times with the Bazar Committee about this.
Customers who come to these shops are used to park their motorbikes on the drain cover. So, pedestrians are forced to travel on the main road.
Rustam Ali, an easy-bike driver, said, almost twice the number of easy-bikes licensed by the municipality are illegally plying in the town. Stopping the movement of illegal easy-bikes will reduce traffic congestion, he added.
Some dwellers in the municipality said, Meherpur Municipality is a very old municipality; now, everything has changed; but there has been no significant development of road.
Some said, bypass roads should be constructed for easy movement; it is not possible to reduce traffic congestion without widening the roads.
Most of the dwellers complained, since last August, residents of the municipality have not been getting citizen services properly, such as emergency birth registration, birth registration certificate, inheritance certificate, etc.
The municipal council was dissolved after the fall of the previous government. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Tariqul Islam said, the problems identified will be resolved through discussions with the appropriate authorities soon.
Superintendent of Police Maksuda Akhtar Khanam said, police are always working to keep this small town free from traffic congestion; now big trucks are diverted to other roads; and only trucks carrying vegetables from fields can enter the town.
She requested the district administration, the municipality and the Roads and Highways Department in writing to work together to remove the obstacles on the road. It is possible if everyone works with responsibility to keep this small town beautiful, she added.
