Sonargaon Residents Protest to Save Century-Old Culvert

Thousands of residents formed a human chain and held a protest march at Nayapur Bazar on Sunday, demanding the preservation and renovation of a century-old culvert. The protesters warned that filling the culvert during the ongoing Madanpur-Gauchia highway expansion will cause severe waterlogging across five villages.

At 10:00 AM, locals from 10 surrounding villages gathered on the Madanpur-Gauchia highway. They expressed deep concern that the culvert—a vital drainage point for villages including Sadipur, Haturapara, and Andarmanik—is being obstructed despite its inclusion in official railway and drainage designs.

"Our ancestors used boats to pass under this culvert," said Maulana Ishaq Mia, former Ameer of Sonargaon Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami. "If this culvert is closed, homes and croplands in Sadipur and Jampur Unions will be submerged. Infrastructure should serve the people, not cause them suffering."

Speakers noted that formal appeals have already been submitted to the Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner (DC), the Project Director, and the Sonargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). The demonstration concluded with a march, with residents calling on the government—including the attention of the current leadership—to ensure the drainage system remains functional for the welfare of the community.

Notable attendees included Md. Abu Bakkar, Managing Director of Gram Bangla Tube Limited; Md. Ismail and Md. Arif of the Nayapur Uttar Para Mosque; and social worker Md. Ruhul Amin.