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A resident's plight

SABRINA KARIM MURSHED
The road that was originally 30 to 35 feet wide had shrunk to half due to the trenches dug by Wasa. Moreover, huge cement pipes have been kept on the road, further constraining space***
Bazlur Rahman woke to the clatter made by spades against concrete, by courtesy of the road digging going on near his house. As usual, he was in a hurry to reach office with an important meeting scheduled. Rahman also had to drop his six-year-old son at school on the way.
Just when they were ready to leave the house after a hastily gulped down breakfast, they found out to their horror that the chauffeur had not arrived. The two were on the verge of losing patience with Rahman lost for ideas on how to sneak son Akash in past the school gate which must have closed by then, driver Obaidul appeared already 20 minutes late.
In the face of furious queries, the driver mumbled that he could not reach in time as the road leading to the house at Central Road had been dug by the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). They rushed down to the garage and then were stunned when the guard at the gate boldly announced that it would be impossible to take the car out of the apartment’s parking lot.
Rahman could see the tailend of a long line of cars and rickshaws mostly carrying school and college going children just outside his gate. They were crossing the area at snails pace.
The road that was originally 30 to 35 feet wide had shrunk to half due to the trenches dug by Wasa. Moreover, huge cement pipes have been kept on the road, further constraining space.
"We are building storm sewers here," replied a labourer when Rahman asked what was going on. Already late for his meeting Rahman decided to cross the dug-up portion on foot in the hope of getting on any passing public transport. But taking Akash along would be risky as the craters were deep. So there would be no school for Akash that day and he was sent home.
Rahman remained busy at work throughout the day but was frequently pestered by phone calls from home. "The carpenter has brought the dining table we ordered on a rickshaw van. But he can not cross the road now. What should I do?" his wife asked. A grumbling Rahman suggested that the carpenter take back the table and return in a week's time.
After a tough day at office, Rahman was returning home in the afternoon with the experience of the morning nearly forgotten. But just as he approached Central Road, he saw a similar traffic jam. As he wondered why on earth so many people were stuck there as it was not the rush hours, he got his answer from a visibly disgusted elderly lady sitting in a rickshaw.
"There are at least 50 doctors' chambers and three hospitals in the area. Doctors usually see the patients in the evening and that is why there is no respite for people here," she said.