A remote village in Gopalganj’s Kotalipara upazila remains cut off from proper road connectivity, forcing 250 families to rely on muddy paths and waterways for daily travel, including transporting goods, accessing healthcare, and attending school.
Local sources said, residents of Chourkhuli Madhyapara village under Kushla Union submitted a written application to the Kotalipara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) on Thursday, seeking construction of a road linking the village to the existing road network.
According to the application, the road from Moniruzzaman Super Market in Ward No. 7 currently ends at South Chourkhuli Government Primary School, while the rest of Madhyapara village remains disconnected.
Villagers said more than 1,000 people are forced to move through muddy embankments, waterlogged land, and submerged pathways during the monsoon, with some families relying on boats for daily travel.
The village is surrounded by around 2,000 hectares of cultivable land where farmers produce paddy, jute, wheat, mustard, lentils, and grass pea. Fish farming, cattle rearing, and poultry farming are also major economic activities.
Locals estimate that the village produces agricultural goods, fish, and livestock worth nearly Tk10 crore annually. However, the absence of a road prevents farmers from transporting goods efficiently and securing fair market prices.
“We have to carry products manually because there is no road. Often, we are forced to sell them at throwaway prices,” said resident Farhad Molla.
Habibur Rahman Molla, another villager, said the lack of road connectivity also complicates the transportation of critically ill patients and creates difficulties during social and religious events.
Schoolchildren are among the worst affected.
Shamim Sheikh, a fifth-grade student at Chourkhuli Government Primary School, said students have to walk along narrow field ridges and muddy paths to attend classes.
“During the rainy season, the paths go underwater. Our books and uniforms get damaged while travelling,” he said.
Villagers said constructing nearly one kilometre of road would resolve the communication crisis. They added that several landowners have already agreed to donate land for the project, eliminating major complications over land acquisition.
Kotalipara UNO Sagufata Haque said authorities would review the application and consider the project once funding becomes available.
“We want to build the road for the convenience of the villagers. However, implementation will depend on budget allocation and land-related issues,” the UNO said.
