The residents of Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat are enduring extreme hardship as a vital road, left dug up for construction work, has turned into a hazardous waterway.

Makeshift rafts are now being used to cross the stretch, with accidents reported almost daily, yet authorities appear slow to intervene.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) confirmed that a Tk 5.87 crore allocation was approved for the improvement of the Duhuli–Jorgach GC Road (length: 5.25 km) in Chalbala Union.

Barendra Construction Limited won the tender and deposited the required performance security, but the company could not start work as the work order had not been issued.

In early August, however, another contractor allegedly began work on the project without authorisation. Complaints were subsequently lodged with the LGED Executive Engineer and Kaliganj police.

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Following administrative intervention, the unauthorised work was halted — but not before around 1.5 km of the road had been dug up, rendering it impassable.

Locals say the stretch has since become a knee-deep canal, making walking extremely difficult and halting all vehicular movement, including vans, rickshaws and ambulances.

They have urged the relevant authorities to resolve the crisis and repair the road without delay.

Tetulia resident Samad Mia said, “The road has been left dug up for one and a half months. Children cannot get to school. If this is not fixed soon, the suffering will become unbearable.”

Homemaker Rehena Begum echoed similar concerns, saying, “Madrasa students have levelled the soil themselves to make a makeshift walkway, but there’s always the fear of tripping and falling into the water. Small children could have an accident at any moment.”

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Kaliganj Upazila Engineer Habibur Rahman admitted his hands were tied and said, “Even though people are suffering, I have nothing to say. Issuing the work order is the Executive Engineer’s responsibility.”

Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jakia Sultana said the work had been stopped because it began unlawfully. “Efforts are under way to resolve the matter quickly. Once the work order is issued, construction will begin soon,” she assured.