For the past two months, daily life has ground to a halt. Residents of Ibrahimpur and Kafrul face a daily nightmare.
A massive drainage project has completely torn up the local streets. Areas like Culvert Road, Shimultola, and Eidgah Road look like active disaster zones.
Heavy excavators have dug deep trenches down the middle of narrow lanes. Massive concrete and plastic pipes block the pathways. Pedestrians are forced to balance on tiny, muddy ledges. Just leaving the house requires a careful balancing act. The local businesses are suffering heavily.
Now, a much bigger threat is looming. The rainy season is knocking at the door. Even a light drizzle turns the exposed dirt into a slippery trap. Soon, these torn-up roads will become a thick sludge of mud. A terrible stench from the open earth and drains will fill the air.
Locals are feeling the intense pressure. Himel, a 25-year-old resident of Shimultola, shared his deep frustration. “Even a little rain makes walking difficult because the entire ground turns into mud and becomes impossible to walk on,” he explains. “The entire road turns into mud. You simply cannot walk.”
Moving daily goods and groceries is now a massive challenge. Vehicle owners are also displaced. They are forced to rent distant garages just to park their cars safely.
Beyond the daily inconvenience, there are very real dangers. The open pits are deep and unprotected. “The holes are left completely open,” Himel warns. “There is a high risk of children falling in.” Public health is also at risk.
Stagnant water is collecting in the trenches. As a result, the mosquito population is rapidly multiplying. Residents desperately want better city infrastructure. However, the slow pace of this project is unbearable.
The authorities must accelerate the construction immediately. If the heavy monsoon rains arrive before the roads are covered, the suffering will multiply.
