Embankment work leaves 45km of Barguna roads muddy

Around 45 kilometres of paved roads in Barguna have turned into muddy, potholed tracks after the Water Development Board raised coastal embankments, disrupting transport and causing hardship for local residents.

The affected roads are in Barguna Sadar, Taltali and Patharghata upazilas. According to the Water Development Board, 20km of roads in Sadar, 3km in Taltali and 22km in Patharghata have been affected.

Many of the roads run along embankments and serve as the only means of communication for local communities. They were previously paved by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), but the surfaces were removed when the embankments were raised to cope with rising water levels linked to climate change.

The roads have since become muddy and waterlogged after rain, with vehicle movement severely disrupted. Children, elderly people, patients and farmers are among those facing the greatest difficulties.

Nur Islam Musalli, a resident of Gulbunia, said the road had remained unpaved for nearly two years.

“During the rainy season, we suffer badly, especially when transporting crops as vehicles cannot use the road,” he said.

Md Abdul Hannan Pradhan, executive engineer of the Barguna Water Development Board, said the embankments had to be raised due to rising tidal water levels.

Barguna has around 805km of embankments built to protect coastal communities from cyclones and tidal surges, he said. Instead of repeatedly paving roads on embankments, separate roads could be built outside them to ensure long-term connectivity and reduce costs, he added.

Md Mehedi Hasan Khan, executive engineer of Barguna LGED, said the affected roads are still listed as paved in the department’s database.

“Photographs and relevant information have already been sent to our headquarters. Once the process is completed, steps will be taken to repave the roads,” he said.

SKS