Awful state of Sonatola UZ staff quarters

The staff quarters of Sonatola Upazila Parishad of the district are in an awful state, putting the lives of the residents at risk. 

The quarters, which were established in 1985, have become impossible to live in as the buildings are breaking up with the passage of time.

The staff quarters were constructed for the officers and employees of the upazila parishad and were named after the rivers Karnafuli, Modhumoti, Meghna, Mohananda, Surma, Kopotakkha, Teesta and Karatoa.

All the buildings except Teesta are two storied. Teesta is a one-storey building and all the rooms are vacant as the residents have been living in other places due to the bad condition of the building.

Plaster falls from the ceiling of all the buildings, and cracks have developed on the walls with trees growing in them. Only the quarter of the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) is in a good condition.

Sheuli Begum, wife of Sonatola upazila treasury office employee Abdul Waresh and resident of a staff quarter, said they have been living in the quarter with four children for the last three years at the risk of their lives. Plaster falls from the ceiling and rainwater enters through the cracks in the walls.

An official of the upazila parishad said he has shifted his family to a safer location due to earthquakes and other natural disasters, and all the officers except the UNO are living in Bogra town.

At least 25 families of school teachers, police personnel and third and fourth class employees of the upazila are living in the quarters, added the official.

Sonatola Upazila Parishad Chairman AKM Ahsanul Tayob Zakir said some minor repair of the quarters has been done from the limited fund of the upazila parishad, but they need a huge budget for enough repair of all the quarters.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sonatola Mirza Shakila Dil Hasin said the quarters will be repaired after they get the funds.