Abdur Razzak, Kushtia: Sand-laden vehicles are running dangerously on most of the roads in Kushtia city and suburbs. Large drum trucks (surrounded by steel), ordinary trucks and saloon-driven trolleys are carrying sand openly. Sand from Kushtia`s Padma and Gorai rivers is going to different areas. Hundreds of sand-laden heavy vehicles ply the roads every day. Accidents are happening due to the risky movement of these vehicles. The Kushtia traffic police has admitted this and said that action will be taken in future. Sand is extracted from 22 points in the Kushtia section of the Padma and Gorai rivers. This calculation has been obtained by adding the information given by Balumhal leaseholders Abdul Hannan, Mohidul Islam and Yassin Arafat Tushar. They said that the demand for coarse and filling sand is high due to its good quality. Supplied to various districts in the vicinity. Sand from the Padma and Gorai rivers is taken by truck and trolley and connected to the highway by small connections from the river bank. Hundreds of trucks and trolleys are plying on these roads. As most of the vehicles are not covered with sand cover, the whole road is getting wet due to sand. The pitch of the road is damaged by the wheels of heavy vehicles. Somewhere, the road is very dangerous. This is the situation in Ranakharia-Kadamtala, Talbaria, Jugia-Barkhada-Bhatapara, Haripur Setu-Mandalpara, SyedMach-UdRumiBridge area of ​​Kumarkhali and various connecting roads of Kumarkhali and Khoksa in Kushtia suburb. The Jugia-Bhatapara road in the city`s 15th ward has been rebuilt twice in the last five years. The road is now dilapidated due to the movement of trucks with extra load. Most of the trucks plying on this road belong to Kushtia Municipality Ward 15 Councilor Mohidul Islam and his relatives. Because of this no one can open his mouth for fear. Going to the Kanabil junction area of ​​the municipality, it can be seen that the road started from Kushtia-Pabna highway and passed through Jugia and went along the banks of Gorai river in Barkhada Hat area. Here sand was illegally cut from the estuary of Padma-Gorai. Earlier this year, the district administration leased Balumhal here. The people of Mahidul also got the lease of this sand ghat of Jugia. The road has been given a few feet due to the large drum truck carrying sand. Large holes have been created in different places. Piles of sand have accumulated on both sides of the road. Sand-carrying trucks continue to ply on the broken and impassable road. Due to this, the residents on both sides of the two-kilometer-long road are suffering. Besides, those who drive autorickshaws, vans, and bicycles are embarrassed to read. In the rainy season, the streets are filled with mud. As the lessee of Balu Mahal is influential, the locals are accepting this daily misery. Local resident Abdul Haque said the dusty sand mud has now become their life partner. The windows and doors of the houses have to be closed most of the time. `Another resident Shahjahan Ali said that their suffering is not over because of the sand truck. Not a single piece of furniture in his house is good. There is no way to cook properly. ”The road was previously under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). Last year they rebuilt it. But due to the movement of heavy trucks, the road has returned to its previous condition. Fatema Khatun, a local resident, said she could not stay at home because of the dust, be cleaned all the time. Just like food cannot be eaten. Children have many difficulties. Van driver Atahar said, ‘Very problematic. It is difficult to move. Open your mouth. There is pressure. ”Asked about the suffering of the people, Municipal Councilor Mahidul Islam said,“ Awami League leaders are in dire straits. "I also live in the area, we don`t have any problems," he said. Everyone is fine. `But now the road is included in Kushtia municipality. Rabiul Islam, chief engineer of Kushtia municipality, said, "The condition of the road is terrible. The sand truck road is completely damaged. Although there is a law in this regard, they are not able to take action due to political reasons. Since sand is used for development work, it is not possible to stop the movement of sand trucks. That is why we are thinking about how to make the road sustainable. ` Heavy vehicles are not allowed on the bridge. So the sand is going from the river to Haripur Mandalpara by these salo-powered trolleys. Although there is a ban on the movement of these trolleys in the city from 8 am to 8 pm, it is being complied with. Although it was supposed to be covered with sand, it is being taken separately. Transporting sand in the open is creating a kind of slippery coating on bridges and roads. Accidents are happening in this. Motorcyclists are especially in trouble. The trolleys in which sand is being transported are made with iron angles in local technology by putting a salo engine. The driver of these trolleys also does not have a license. These vehicles are also running on Kushtia-Rajbari, Kushtia-Jhenaidah and Kushtia-Pabna highways. The trolleys are also taking sand from Kumarkhali and Khoksa.

Moreover, the vehicles could not be detained due to the request of different people. At the end of the lockdown, vehicles will be allowed to run according to the rules, he said. Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Saidul Islam said, "I recently joined Kushtia. So the suffering of the people due to these vehicles was not known. He said that necessary measures would be taken after looking into the problems caused by traffic and mismanagement.