CHUNARUGHAT, HABIGANJ, May 10: Drying paddy and straw on roads and setting up paddy threshing machines on the busy Satang Road in Chunarughat Upazila have created serious public sufferings and increased the risk of accidents for both drivers and pedestrians.
Locals said farmers in different parts of the road are occupying more than half of the roadway for threshing paddy, drying crops and storing sacks of harvested rice and piles of straw, severely disrupting traffic movement.
places, paddy was spread across the road for drying under the sun, while large sacks of paddy and heaps of straw were stacked beside or on parts of the road after processing.
As a result, vehicles are struggling to pass through the narrow road, and in many cases, one side of traffic has to stop for a long time to allow vehicles from the opposite direction to cross.
Drivers and pedestrians complained that dust and flying straw during dry weather make travel difficult. They said the situation becomes even more dangerous during rainfall.
When it rains, wet straw and paddy waste rot on the road surface, creating a slippery layer that often causes motorcycles, auto-rickshaws and other small vehicles to skid and fall into roadside ditches.
A motorcycle rider who recently faced such an accident said the road becomes extremely slippery after rain.
"Even applying a slight brake causes bikes to skid. Because of the straw spread on the road, driving safely has become nearly impossible," he said, adding that many residents appear to be using the public road as their personal courtyard.
Local residents said elderly people and schoolchildren are also facing risks while walking along the road.
They alleged that although many farmers have their own open spaces, they continue using the road out of convenience, despite the fact that creating obstructions on public roads is a punishable offence.
Residents expressed frustration over the lack of visible action from the authorities to stop the practice.
Locals demanded immediate intervention by the administration, including regular monitoring and mobile court drives, to remove obstructions and ensure safe movement on the road.
Concerned residents said effective measures are urgently needed to prevent accidents and restore normal traffic movement on the important road.
