Unplanned road washed away

Road communications between Rowangchhari upazila and Bandarban town have remained snapped since Saturday when a portion of a newly constructed unplanned diversion road over a canal in Kanshama area was washed away by rainwater.

The road is near the sector headquarters of Border Guard Bangladesh in Bandarban. 

Officials of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Bandarban alleged that the road went under rainwater as it was constructed in an unplanned way.

The diversion road was built after a Bailey bridge over the canal collapsed under the weight of an overloaded truck on February 21. 

"The authorities concerned did not work properly when they constructed the road. Had it been done in a planned way, it would not have been washed away by rainwater," said local Mong Hla Nue Marma, aged around 70.

Tofail Mia, RHD executive engineer, said, “The road was built at the cost of around Tk 10 lakh. Unfortunately, it was damaged within three months as water in the canal suddenly rose due to heavy rain.”  

The road was built according to the standard specified, he claimed, adding that the contractor would repair it.

Repair work of the Bailey Bridge already started, and it would be completed within a week, said the engineer while talking to this correspondent on Monday. 

Contacted, Abul Hossain, contractor of the road construction work, said that there had been some flaws in the construction work.

Without mentioning names, Abul claimed that he could not do the work properly as he had to bribe some government officials and local political leaders.

He would mend the damaged road. 

Farmers said they were incurring huge losses as they could not transport their vegetables to the district town. Students were facing difficulty reaching their institutions.

Patients endure trouble in going to the district town for treatment from the upazila.