The haor areas of Nandirgaon and Towakul unions in Gowainghat upazila, home to around 15,000 people, remain without paved roads despite being established over a century ago.
Residents of 18 villages in the region, spanning only 10 kilometers from Salutikar Bazar, continue to face immense challenges due to poor infrastructure.
Villagers said that the lack of proper roads makes their daily lives difficult, especially during the monsoon, when transportation becomes nearly impossible.
“Students cannot continue education beyond the primary level due to these difficulties,” said Kashem Ali, a freedom fighter from Chalitabari village.
Yunus Ali, president of Ward no 8 Unit BNP in Nandirgaon Union, expressed dissatisfaction with the state of development in his village.
“Since independence, our village has seen little progress. While electricity arrived about 6-7 years ago, the elected representatives have not undertaken any significant development initiatives beyond basic work on the roads,” he said.
Nandirgaon Union BNP Organizing Secretary Ziaul Haque Zia said, “For 15 years, former minister Imran Ahmad visited this area at least twenty times and promised to have them paved, but in the end, he did not fulfill his commitment.”
He continued, “We lack basic facilities. When we fall ill, we can’t access proper healthcare. There are no roads. During election time, many make numerous promises, but once the voting is over, they disappear.”
The region’s economy largely depends on agriculture, fishing and cattle rearing while the lack of proper communication facilities deprives villagers of access to healthcare, education and other basic services.
Abdul Matin Lebu, another local leader, said, “Patients often die without treatment as we have to carry them in bullock carts or on foot to the nearest hospital.”
He explained that the lack of proper roads makes it impossible for villagers to receive emergency medical care when they fall ill. Even a light rain makes the roads impassable, leaving us unable to walk.
“While we can now reach Salutikar market, during the rainy season, both men and women have to wade through two kilometres of road with their clothes rolled up to their knees,” Lebu added.
In this regard, Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Touhidul Islam said that the road from Salutikar-Gowainghat road to Gowainghat Upazila Sadar has been included in the LGED as Gangkinari Road.
He said that two kilometres of road (from Gowainghat Sadar Upazila to Gangkinari Road) have already been paved using Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC).
“On the other hand, the Gowainghat Upazila Engineer has been asked to collect a database for the purpose of paving the Salutikar-Gowainghat road up to Kachuarpar village,” he added.
Despite these assurances, locals remain skeptical, saying they have been hearing such promises for years without real progress.
