Rain leaves Char Fasson court premises under water

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, July 9: Hundreds of people visit the Char Fasson additional court every day to seek judicial services, but even a brief spell of rain leaves the court premises water-logged, causing severe inconvenience to litigants, lawyers and court officials.

The persistent water-logging has made it difficult for people to walk or even stand inside the court compound, prompting demands for an urgent and permanent drainage system.

A visit to the court premises around 11 am on Wednesday revealed stagnant rainwater covering large sections of the compound and entrance.

Several service seekers said they face the same ordeal whenever it rains.

Yasin, a resident of South Char Mongol Village in Ward No. 9 of Char Kolmi Union, who had come to the court in connection with a case, said he found knee-deep water in front of the court upon arrival.

"Whenever it rains, the court premises become inundated. There is hardly any place to stand in front of the court," he said.

Additional Public Prosecutor of the Char Fasson Additional Court Hazrat Ali Hiron said even light rainfall causes water to accumulate on the road and entrance to the court, disrupting movement.

"As a result, litigants are forced to wade through stagnant water to enter the court," he said.

He also blamed the problem on the absence of a proper drainage network despite the construction of numerous houses and multi-storey buildings around the court.

"We have carried out some emergency drain cleaning to reduce the water-logging, but we have not received the expected support from the upazila administration or the municipality. A permanent drainage system must be built without delay," he added.

President of the Char Fasson Court Bar Association, Romiz Uddin, described the issue as a long-standing one.

"A large number of people visit the court every day. A permanent drainage system is now essential to ease their suffering. We expect prompt cooperation from both the upazila administration and the municipality to resolve the problem," he said.

Local residents said it is unfortunate that a key public institution such as a court continues to suffer from chronic water-logging. They warned that public suffering would worsen during the monsoon unless effective measures are taken soon.

Char Fasson Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Afroz said the authorities are aware of the problem.
"A Tk 46 lakh project has already been approved, and construction of the drainage system will begin within the next few days," she said.