Carpeting work on nearly five kilometres of the Laokora Muktijoddha Road in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur has remained stalled for around 18 months due to alleged negligence by the contractor, causing severe hardship for thousands of residents in at least 12 villages.

According to locals, the 5.5-kilometre road stretching from Uaruk Station on the Chandpur-Cumilla highway to Laokora Bottoli is considered a vital communication route in the area.

The road serves as the main transport link for nearly 200,000 people living in 12 villages across the border areas of Hajiganj, Kachua and Shahrasti upazilas.

The road renovation project, worth around Tk 1.5 crore, was awarded in December 2024 to Ivy Construction.

Later, the project was reportedly handed over on a sub-contract basis to Afzal Traders, another contracting firm based in Chandpur.

Rahmat Ullah, a Union Parishad member of Laokora village, said the development and renovation of the road is crucial for local residents.

He alleged that the road has remained dug up for more than a year and that repeated communications with the contractor have yielded no visible progress.

The UP member urged the district and upazila administrations to take immediate steps to resolve the issue.

Local residents, including Bablu Patwary and Abdul Jalil, said patients, pregnant women, elderly people and commuters are enduring immense suffering due to the unfinished roadwork.

They said travelling on the road becomes even more hazardous at night.

Auto-rickshaw driver Ibrahim said excessive dust from the damaged road leaves drivers and passengers covered in dirt and causes daily inconvenience.

CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers Nabir Hossain and Khorshed Mia said their vehicles are being damaged frequently due to the poor road condition.

Local school teacher Faraz Hossain Bhuiyan said excessive dust has forced people to wear masks while travelling on the road.

He added that people of all ages, from children to the elderly, are suffering from respiratory and other health complications.

Md Tahsinul Hossain Mukul, Assistant Engineer of the Chandpur office of the Local Government Engineering Department, said the contractor has been warned several times in writing.

He said a letter has also been sent to seize the contractor’s bank security as a penalty.

Mukul added that if the contractor fails to resume work by June, penalties will be imposed and the renovation of the road will be completed through a fresh tender process.

Officials of Ivy Construction for their version could not be reached over the phone.