Gabtoli-Sadarghat road is always covered in dust. The air is thick and grey. Trucks carrying sand, bricks and construction materials rumble past constantly. Each one kicks up clouds that settle in homes, shops, schools and streets.
Residents of Beribadh, Dhaka Uddan, Chad Uddan, Sankar, Rayer Bazar and Hazaribagh live with it every day. Windows are closed, but the dust still creeps in. Shopkeepers wipe counters and goods several times a day. Commuters cover their faces to breathe. Children cough and sneeze while playing outside.
“My shop is a gift shop. Every day, dust covers all the items. It lowers their quality, and shoppers don’t want to buy anything. The dust is really hurting my business,” said Sadman, 26, a local businessman.
The road is broken and uneven. Potholes, mud and loose soil make the dust worse. Heavy trucks dig into the edges, sending dirt flying with every turn. Even a small wind spreads it across the blocks. People walk carefully, trying not to slip or get their eyes filled with dust.
For many, the morning starts with cleaning. Sweeping floors, wiping windows and cleaning goods. By noon, it has returned. By evening, it is everywhere again. Shops cover their products. Motorbike riders pull scarves over their faces. Pedestrians shield their eyes. Life slows down in the haze.
A resident of Chad Uddan, Nahida Akter, 34, said, “I have to keep my windows closed for hours, or else the whole flat gets covered in dust. Lately, I’ve started having breathing problems because of the poor air quality here.”
Health problems are rising. Children complain of constant coughing. Elderly people struggle to breathe. Shopkeepers suffer from itchy eyes and sore throats. Doctors in nearby clinics see more patients with respiratory problems every day. The dust is not just a nuisance. It is a danger.
Authorities have done little. Water spraying happens irregularly. Road repairs are slow and incomplete. Trucks move at all hours, carrying open loads that kick up more dust. Sand and bricks are often stored along the roadside, adding to the cloud.
The dust is more than dirt. It marks danger, health risk, and daily frustration. Residents hope for real solutions, proper road repair, a time frame for trucks and regular cleaning. But for now, the heavy trucks keep moving, the dust keeps rising, and life along Gabtoli-Sadarghat continues under a cloud of grey.
