Poor Planning of Culvert Work Causes Misery for Two Unions in Jhalakathi

Thousands of residents across two unions in Jhalakathi and Nalchiti upazilas are facing extreme hardship as the reconstruction of seven culverts has effectively cut off their primary road link.

The 5-kilometer road connects Chaklar Bazar in Nathullabad Union to Pratap Bazar in Bhairabpasha Union. While the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) project is necessary, the lack of usable alternative routes has brought life to a standstill.

The contractor, Ms. Barenya Enterprise, has demolished six of the seven old culverts to begin reconstruction. However, the temporary "diversion roads" provided are merely mounds of soil and debris that become impassable after even light rain.

"The temporary path made of broken concrete and soil gets submerged within 10 minutes of rain," said Nur Alam Jamaddar, a local shopkeeper. "Traffic stops completely, and we are left stranded."

The road is a vital artery for over a thousand daily commuters, including students from two local educational institutions. With motorized vehicles unable to cross the muddy stretches, students and office-goers are forced to navigate dangerous, slippery paths on foot.

Locals have also expressed frustration over the slow pace of work, fearing that the disruption will last much longer than promised.

Responding to the complaints, contractor Saleh Hasan claimed that the project budget lacks a specific allocation for sustainable alternative roads. He assured residents that the work is expected to be completed and the road reopened by December 2026.

Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila LGED Engineer, Abdullah Hale Baki Billah, echoed these concerns. "The budget for alternative roads in culvert projects is very limited. We have instructed the contractor to expedite the work to minimize public suffering," he stated.