More than 25 villages in Rangpur’s Mithapukur and Pirgacha upazilas have remained directly disconnected by road for nearly 25 years after a 250-metre stretch was washed away by the Ghaghat River, causing prolonged suffering for residents, farmers and students.
The damaged section is located between Kagzipara and Fakirtari on a six-kilometre Local Government Engineering Department road linking Mithapukur’s Vangni Union with Deuti area of Pirgacha. Locals said the road collapsed into the river around 25 years ago but has never been rebuilt.
The disruption has affected four unions under the two upazilas, including Vangni, Payrabond, Balarhat and Parul, leaving residents of at least 25 villages without direct road communication.
Residents said people now have to travel an additional 20 to 30 kilometres to reach upazila headquarters, hospitals, markets and educational institutions.
The situation has become particularly difficult for students, patients and farmers transporting agricultural produce.
Several schools, madrasas and colleges are located on both sides of the damaged road, including Deuti College, Deuti High School, Thakur Bari Girls’ High School and multiple primary schools.
Locals said the communication crisis has severely affected farming and trade in the area.
“This road remained disconnected for around 25 years after being washed away by the river,” said Kagozipara resident Kofil Uddin.
“We cannot travel directly to Fakirtari, Deuti or Pirgacha anymore.”
South Tari resident Ashikur Rahman said farmers on the riverbanks and char areas were unable to transport crops properly due to the broken road.
“As a result, we do not get fair prices for our produce and often have to sell them cheaply,” he said.
Students also face major difficulties commuting to schools.
Sohail Islam, a seventh-grade student of Deuti High School, said he had to cycle an extra 10 to 12 kilometres daily using alternative routes.
“It takes around 30 minutes more every day. If the road existed, I could reach school much faster and more safely,” he said.
Residents said transportation becomes even more difficult during the monsoon when people rely on boats and makeshift rafts to cross the river.
Fakirtari resident Mokhtar Alam said many guardians avoided sending children to school during floods fearing accidents in water.
Businessman Mojibur Rahman said the lack of road connectivity had increased transport costs and reduced market access for local produce, including potatoes, bananas, paddy and vegetables.
“Farmers are forced to sell crops in the fields at low prices because vehicles cannot enter the area,” he said.
Local Chairman Abdullah Al Mamun Wahedi said he had repeatedly appealed to different government offices, including the Local Government Engineering Department, deputy commissioner and upazila administration, for reconstruction of the road.
“The road is urgently needed as direct communication of more than 25 villages has remained cut off for decades,” he said.
Mithapukur Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md Moniruzzaman said officials had inspected the area and informed the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry about the issue.
Rangpur-5 lawmaker Golam Robbani said he had also visited the area and submitted a recommendation letter seeking reconstruction of the road.
