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Eid enjoyment lost in the potholes of Jaflong Road

M1NTU DESHWARA,
Thousands of tourists from across Bangladesh visit Sylhet's scenic Jaflong during Eid holidays every year, but this year many could not reach their intended destination due to the poor condition of the road.
Hundreds of sightseers and travellers found themselves stranded, facing a 17 km stretch of the Jaintapur-Jaflong road that has remained in a state of disrepair for many years, with the condition of the road progressively deteriorating.
When this correspondent visited the area yesterday he saw up to 90 vehicles stopped for four hours due
to the road's condition. Currently Jaflong-bound vehicles face regular tailbacks in the Mamardukan area.
Md. Akther-uz-zaman, a government official posted in Bogra, wanted to visit Jaflong with family, but could not get there due to the damaged road. "I won't come to Jaflong again," he said, "This experience has spoiled my family’s enjoyment of Eid."
Eight local organisations have demanded immediate renovation of the road which also serves as an important transportation route for quarried stones and sand. Over 2000 trucks ply the road every day, estimated truck driver Jahangir.
Minhaj Uddin, a leader of the Jaflong Bollaghat Pathor Bebsayee Samity, one of the organisations, observed that the heavy downpours of the season can only damage the road further and aggravate suffering.
"We have submitted memos to the roads and bridges minister, finance minister, state minister for finance and planning, and local lawmaker Imran Ahmed, to repair this important road, but no positive step has been taken yet,” said Hazi Azir Uddin, president of the Jaflong Truck Malik Samity.
People of Guainghat upazila joined the programmes of the local organisations to press
demand for urgent road repair.
The situation also greatly affects local residents. "The road has numerous potholes and during monsoon season becomes too muddy," said Borla village resident Ismail Hossain. "It is especially a problem for students trying to get to and from theirschools."
Moreover, after sunset using the road is fraught with added risk.
Contacted, Iftekhar Kabir, superintending engineer of roads and highways in Sylhet, said a Japanese-funded project to improve the road has been pending with the planning ministry for months, awaiting approval.