Sarwar Azam Manik, Cox’s Bazaar
Cox’s Bazaar-Teknaf martyr Zafar Arakan road is in a dilapidated condition. Over last two years, numerous large potholes have been created on the road. Both sides of this road are now being inhabited by thousands of Rohingya refugees. Moreover, due to operation of thousands of vehicles through the road, it is in a deplorable condition.
Drivers of the vehicles as well as local passerby through the road, however, blamed influx of Rohingya refugees for such miserable condition of the road. They were demanding the road to be repaired soon.
It is learnt, the five kilometre long Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf road was functioning normally during last two years but after the influx of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and taking their shelter in camps at Ukhia and Teknaf, the road condition started to be deplorable.
Movement of hundreds of relief trucks from international, domestic NGOs and donor agencies has made most part of the road unusable. The potholed road is also causing severe traffic congestion. Often vehicles driving through the roads are trapped in jam for hours when a cargo truck carrying relief goods turned upside down beside the road.
Zakir Hossain, a businessman from Ukhiya Kot Bazar area, said, “We are in a great trouble with this road. The trucks carrying relief goods are often being trapped in the hole of the road. As a result, an extra truck fare is required to be paid.”
Nurul Haque, a passenger on the road said the road was not in a suitable condition to move. Due to the Rohingya, this road is in dilapidated condition today.
Ashiq, Rafiq and Sayman, students of Ukhia School, said,“We are going to school through the road with great difficulty. Often our school dresses get dirty in muddy water from the road potholes. Then we have no ways to go to school rather to return to our houses.”
Jahedul Alam Babul, Treasurer of Mini Pick up Drivers’ Co-operative Association demanded immediate repair of the road saying their cars and pick-ups often stuck in dirt and potholes of the road and they failed to remove those vehicles easily from there.
Pintu Chakma, Executive Engineer of the Cox’s Bazar Roads and Highway Division said, two kilometere of road is underway to be repaired at a cost of Taka 10 million( one crore).
Kamal Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar informed, concerned authorities have been directed to repair the road to reduce human sufferings and to ease movement of traffic.
It is learnt, over the past two years, more than half a hundred of people died in accidents on this road due to excessive vehicular movement through the road. The road will be quickly repaired to end the misery of the people, he mentioned.
