Thousands of people suffering : Sunamganj-Jamalganj Road turns death trap, urgent repair needed
Md. Emran Hossain, Sunamganj
The 11-kilometer stretch of the Sunamganj-Jamalganj road up to Noagaon Bazar has become a death trap for commuters.
Due to the lack of repairs, accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles occur daily. Navigating this road, whether by vehicle or on foot, is extremely challenging, yet thousands risk their lives to travel it. This road is the only route connecting the three unions of Dharmapasha, Madhyanagar, and Jamalganj upazilas to Sunamganj and Sylhet. The absence of maintenance has led to severe difficulties for goods transportation, patients accessing the upazila health complex, students, and the elderly. Despite repeated promises from public representatives in response to local demands, the road remains untouched by development. During the rainy season, flooding creates large potholes, with many sections of the road broken and riddled with deep ditches, forcing passengers to walk due to the fear of accidents.
Locals report that prolonged neglect has resulted in numerous potholes, causing damage to vehicles as their undercarriages scrape the road. Thousands, including students from various schools, colleges, and madrasas, must risk their lives to travel to the upazila, Sunamganj district, or Sylhet city. Pregnant women, the sick, and the elderly face particularly high risks. Even upazila administration vehicles, police vehicles, and government ambulances are forced to park at Sachna Bazar on the other side of the Surma River due to the road’s condition, leaving them unattended and vulnerable.
Khadeeja Begum, a student at Jamalganj Degree College, shared that traveling from Noagaon to college is terrifying due to the jolts from the road’s condition, with constant fear of auto-rickshaws overturning. Despite repeated calls for repairs, no action has been taken. Emran Hossain, a student at Jamalganj Government Model High School, said accidents are frequent due to potholes, and school uniforms often get ruined by muddy water. He noted that administrative vehicles and ambulances avoid the road, underscoring the severity of the situation, and urged authorities to repair it promptly.
Laguna driver Jadish Mia said that due to the road’s poor state, most passengers opt for Sachna Bazar, and the few who travel this route require frequent vehicle repairs due to the potholes.
Abdul Wakib, a member of Jallabaj Bhimkhali Union Parishad, recounted a recent incident where an auto-rickshaw traveling from Noagaon Bazar to Jamalganj overturned, severely injuring a passenger who later died en route to the hospital. He highlighted that water accumulation in potholes at Noagaon Bazar causes splashes, creating embarrassing situations for students, children, and pedestrians. He has been demanding a durable RCC-paved road, but authorities have ignored the plea.
Bhimkhali Union Parishad Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Talukder said that despite repeatedly informing the administration, an unseen force seems to prevent the road’s implementation. He strongly demanded swift repairs on behalf of the union’s residents.
Upazila Engineer Md. Shanowar Hussain said, in December 2024, he contacted the HEMP project director regarding the Sunamganj-Jamalganj road. The road, neglected for 14 years, has become unfit for travel, with daily accident reports. He has requested urgent repairs from the Chief Engineer of Sylhet Division, the Supervising Engineer of Sylhet Region, and the Executive Engineer of Sunamganj.
Sunamganj LGED Executive Engineer Anowar Hossain on Wednesdsy said, 25,000 pickets were allocated for the road before Eid-ul-Fitr, and work was done on 4 kilometers, but 7 kilometers remain riddled with potholes.
Locals report that prolonged neglect has resulted in numerous potholes, causing damage to vehicles as their undercarriages scrape the road. Thousands, including students from various schools, colleges, and madrasas, must risk their lives to travel to the upazila, Sunamganj district, or Sylhet city. Pregnant women, the sick, and the elderly face particularly high risks. Even upazila administration vehicles, police vehicles, and government ambulances are forced to park at Sachna Bazar on the other side of the Surma River due to the road’s condition, leaving them unattended and vulnerable.
Khadeeja Begum, a student at Jamalganj Degree College, shared that traveling from Noagaon to college is terrifying due to the jolts from the road’s condition, with constant fear of auto-rickshaws overturning. Despite repeated calls for repairs, no action has been taken. Emran Hossain, a student at Jamalganj Government Model High School, said accidents are frequent due to potholes, and school uniforms often get ruined by muddy water. He noted that administrative vehicles and ambulances avoid the road, underscoring the severity of the situation, and urged authorities to repair it promptly.
Laguna driver Jadish Mia said that due to the road’s poor state, most passengers opt for Sachna Bazar, and the few who travel this route require frequent vehicle repairs due to the potholes.
Abdul Wakib, a member of Jallabaj Bhimkhali Union Parishad, recounted a recent incident where an auto-rickshaw traveling from Noagaon Bazar to Jamalganj overturned, severely injuring a passenger who later died en route to the hospital. He highlighted that water accumulation in potholes at Noagaon Bazar causes splashes, creating embarrassing situations for students, children, and pedestrians. He has been demanding a durable RCC-paved road, but authorities have ignored the plea.
Bhimkhali Union Parishad Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Talukder said that despite repeatedly informing the administration, an unseen force seems to prevent the road’s implementation. He strongly demanded swift repairs on behalf of the union’s residents.
Upazila Engineer Md. Shanowar Hussain said, in December 2024, he contacted the HEMP project director regarding the Sunamganj-Jamalganj road. The road, neglected for 14 years, has become unfit for travel, with daily accident reports. He has requested urgent repairs from the Chief Engineer of Sylhet Division, the Supervising Engineer of Sylhet Region, and the Executive Engineer of Sunamganj.
Sunamganj LGED Executive Engineer Anowar Hossain on Wednesdsy said, 25,000 pickets were allocated for the road before Eid-ul-Fitr, and work was done on 4 kilometers, but 7 kilometers remain riddled with potholes.
He informed that Sylhet’s Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Debjit Singha noted the issue and assured necessary action
