Residents of seven villages from Chandina and Debidwar upazilas formed a human chain on Friday, demanding construction of a foot overbridge at the Kathterpul area on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway.

The programme was held around 3pm at Kathterpul point in Chandina, a busy stretch frequently used by pedestrians from both upazilas.

Locals said the highway divides Debidwar and Chandina, with people from villages like Barkamta, Premu, Brahmankhara, Chhotona and Bagmara crossing the road daily to access Chandina Bazar, schools and colleges. Meanwhile, residents of Rarirchar and Gobindapur villages in Chandina also cross the highway regularly for educational purposes.

They alleged that frequent road accidents occur in the area due to the absence of a safe crossing system, often claiming lives of students and people from different walks of life.

The demand for a foot overbridge intensified after the tragic death of a schoolboy, Ibne Taim, who was crushed by a lorry while crossing the highway on April 1 on his way to school.

Among those who took part in the human chain were Barkamta Village Development Committee President Mobarak Hossain, Cumilla North district Matsyajibi Dal member secretary Fazlul Sattar, local businessman Golzar Hossain, Abdul Wadud, Abdul Aziz, Chandina municipal Chhatra Dal joint convener Asaduzzaman Russel, Al-Insaf Foundation president Anisur Rahman Mehdi, and student representatives Tanvir, Masud, Sohel Rana, Nazmul and Zahid, among others.