Heavy rains leave Char Fasson rural roads in disrepair

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, Aug 6: Persistent monsoon rains have severely damaged newly built rural roads in Char Fasson Upazila of Bhola, disrupting transport and causing widespread hardship for residents, particularly students and commuters.

According to local officials, around 200 kilometres of earthen roads were constructed under the TR, Kabikha and Kabita projects during the 2025-26 fiscal year. However, continuous rainfall has already washed away or badly damaged 70 to 80 kilometres of those roads.

A visit to several unions found many rural roads riddled with potholes and covered in mud and rainwater, making them difficult to use. Parts of paved roads built under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) have also deteriorated, with asphalt peeling off and mixing with mud.

One of the worst-affected stretches is the earthen road from Adarsha College in Dularhat to the bridge near Heju Member's house in Char Jamuna under Nilkamal Union, where thousands of residents are struggling to travel.

Locals said recently repaired roads had become almost impassable due to continuous rainfall, affecting school and college students, office-goers and other commuters.

Students are among the hardest hit, as many are forced to walk through muddy roads to reach educational institutions. 

Accidents involving auto-rickshaws and vans have also become frequent, residents said.

Several auto-rickshaw drivers said they were risking their lives every day while using the damaged roads.

"The poor road conditions are damaging our vehicles and increasing maintenance costs. A serious accident could happen at any time," one driver said.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Afroz recently inspected the damaged roads.

She said excessive rainfall had caused embankments along newly constructed earthen roads to collapse and brick soling to sink.

The administration plans to repair the damaged roads under the Rural Road Maintenance Project by refilling earth and restoring brick soling as soon as weather permits, she said.

The UNO also said those involved in the works had been instructed to expedite repairs to ease public suffering.