Around 50,000 people across 10 villages in Meherpur Sadar have faced months of hardship as renovation work on a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the Jadabpur-Buripota road remains suspended, leaving the route riddled with potholes and loose bricks.
The Tk60.61 lakh project, undertaken by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), was scheduled for completion in March. However, work stopped after the old asphalt surface was removed, making travel hazardous.
The road connects Buripota union with Meherpur town and serves residents of Buripota, Kamdebpur, Ichhakhali, Jhajha, Harirampur, Bajitpur, Nabinnagar, Baribanka, Rajapur Adarshagram and Shalika.
Patients, pregnant women, students, workers and farmers are among the worst affected.
During a visit on Monday, vehicles were seen navigating potholes and uneven surfaces at low speeds.
Passengers Rashida Khatun, Asma Akter and Rafiul said travelling had become uncomfortable and risky.
Auto-rickshaw drivers Faruk Hossain and Masum Hossain said the damaged road increased journey times, vehicle maintenance costs and accident risks.
Private-sector employees Samrat Hossain and Ariful Islam complained of daily commuting difficulties, while farmers Selim Hossain and Chand Ali said transporting crops had become slower and more expensive.
Buripota Union Parishad Chairman Shahjaman Hossain said the contractor had suspended work despite starting the project.
“We have informed the deputy commissioner in writing, but no effective action has been taken,” he said.
According to the LGED, contractor Shishir Enterprise began the Tk60,61,567 project in December 2025, with completion scheduled for March 2026.
Contractor Ashiqur Rahman Shishir declined to comment.
Company manager Abdullah Al Maruf said rising fuel and bitumen prices had made the project financially unviable, prompting the suspension.
He claimed the LGED had issued no further correspondence.
LGED Meherpur Sadar Upazila Engineer Akhtar Hossain said a request for a deadline extension had been sent to the department’s headquarters.
“If the contractor fails to complete the work under the agreement, penalties and necessary action will follow in accordance with the rules,” he said.
