CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, June 12: The tourism town of Char Fasson is facing severe public inconvenience as roads, footpaths and drains across the municipality have increasingly come under occupation by mobile hawkers, illegal shops and unregulated transport, triggering chronic traffic congestion.
Local residents say the situation has worsened in recent times, severely disrupting pedestrian movement and daily life across key areas of the municipality.
In response, Member of Parliament for Bhola-4 Nurul Islam has issued strict directives to curb traffic congestion, remove illegal structures and widen roads. Following his instructions, the Char Fasson Upazila Administration has intensified eviction drives to clear occupied footpaths.
However, locals allege that the impact of these drives is being undermined by the influence of certain vested political groups, preventing sustained recovery of footpaths and drainage systems in the municipal town.
Government sources said a syndicate had long been active in collecting money by allowing illegal shops to operate on footpaths under the patronage of influential groups and through control over local haat-bazaars. This has resulted in serious disruption to pedestrian movement and municipal management.
In this context, the MP has reportedly declared the Char Fasson�"Monpura haat-bazaar lease-free for the fiscal year 1433 Bangla calendar, as part of efforts to eliminate irregularities.
Authorities have warned that no form of business will be allowed on footpaths under any circumstances. They stressed that walkways must remain free for public use, and strict legal action will be taken against anyone attempting to reoccupy them.
On the ground, illegal shops continue to spread along major roads including Sadar Road, Badtola, Jacob Avenue, Chalpatty and Green Road, where hundreds of makeshift stalls have been set up.
Shopkeepers are also occupying footpaths for storage, forcing pedestrians to walk on busy roads and increasing the risk of accidents.
Meanwhile, key routes such as from TB School to Sharif Para have reportedly been occupied by rickshaws, motorbikes, auto-rickshaws, CNG-run vehicles, microbuses, trucks and transport associations, worsening congestion on Sadar Road.
Former councillor of Ward No. 1 Kamruzzaman Shahin said repeated eviction drives were carried out following instructions from the MP to clear footpaths, but vendors return after a few days, which he described as unfortunate.
Char Fasson Upazila Jubo Dal President and former BNP-nominated mayoral candidate Shikdar Humayun Kabir said efforts are underway in coordination with the administration to restore the town’s beauty and ensure better civic services.
“We hope traders, residents and the administration will extend their full cooperation to build a clean and traffic-free Char Fasson,” he said.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer and municipal administrator Rumana Afroz said no one will be spared if found occupying footpaths illegally.
“We will soon hold discussions with business associations and traders to ensure safe movement and establish a traffic-free municipal town,” she said.
