7-day ultimatum issued to finish incomplete road

The human chain was held on Monday (September 14), from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM in the Mallikpur area of Nalchity Upazila. Afterward, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the Nalchity Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

Speakers at the event noted that although construction began nearly 5 years ago, the work remained incomplete on eight roads under the "Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project-2" – including the road from Mallikpur to Suryapasha School and the road from Shankar Pasha Polehat to South Gouripasha. Thousands of people are suffering due to the prolonged delay in completing these roads.

They alleged that various parts of the roads are riddled large potholes, disrupting traffic and frequently causing accidents. Women – particularly pregnant women and new mothers – as well as the elderly, face extreme hardship while commuting.

Moreover, speakers cited an incident on the afternoon on Friday, (September 11), when a fire broke out at the home of Abdur Razzaq Farhad in the Suryapasha-Monaibari area. Although a fire service vehicle rushed to the scene as soon as they heard the news, it got stuck due to the dilapidated condition of the road. They claimed that, as a result, the fire could not be brought under control quickly, and the entire house burned down.

The speakers demanded that construction work on the stalled roads resume within seven days and be completed promptly. They warned of launching a rigorous protest program, including a blockade of the Nalchity-Barishal regional highway, if their demands were not met. They also declared that residents of the affected areas would stop paying all forms of taxes if the demands aren’t fulfilled.

Those who spoke at the human chain included local social worker Nazrul Islam Talukdar, businessmen Monir Hossain and Abdus Salam, Lecturer Nasir Uddin, Upazila Islami Andolan President Maulana Shahjalal Hossain Jihadi, and local social activist Bali Taifur Rahman Turjo. Also present were Ward No. 7 BNP General Secretary Jashim Hossain, Mohan Talukdar, Dulal Hossain, Ishan Talukdar, and Badal Hossain, along with over a hundred local residents.

According to local sources, under the ‘Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project-2’ and through the Nalchity Municipality, a total of Tk. 1.27 crore was allocated across two packages during the 2020-21 fiscal year for the construction of a road—spanning approximately 1.3 kilometers—from Mallikpur to Suryapasha School. The contracting firms Prince Construction and Khandakar Brothers were awarded the contracts for these two projects. However, even after 5 years and two contractors hired for the job, the work remains unfinished.

Additionally, a work order worth Tk 48.84 lakh was issued for the construction of a 600-meter road stretching from Shankarpasha Polehat to South Gouripasha. The contracting firm Khan Enterprise was entrusted with this project. Local residents allege that the construction work on this road has also remained incomplete for a long time.