The only paved road in Dhulchar, an isolated island union in Charfasson upazila, remains unrepaired more than a month after Cyclone Shakti severely damaged it on May 29, leaving residents facing immense daily hardships.
Dhulchar, situated amidst the Meghna River and lacking connection to the mainland, relies entirely on this brick road for internal travel and communication. The damaged stretch, nearly two kilometers long from Majher Char canal’s wooden bridge to Char Tarua Sea Beach, was washed away by unusually high tides triggered by the cyclone’s low-pressure system, as the union has no embankment to protect it.
Local residents described the broken road as their only means to access markets, schools, and essential services. Motorcycle drivers, who previously made 30-40 trips daily transporting passengers and goods, have lost their livelihoods. Women and children, in particular, are suffering as they are now forced to walk long distances carrying groceries and daily necessities, often in the dark due to the absence of streetlights or electricity.
Residents like Asma Begum and Jannat Begum expressed deep frustration, saying city dwellers cannot imagine the extent of their suffering. “We feel deprived despite living in this country. There is no sign of repair even after all this time,” they said, urging authorities for immediate reconstruction.
Charfasson Upazila Disaster Management Project Implementation Officer G M Waliul Islam acknowledged the damage, explaining that the road, constructed in 2023 under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at a cost of nearly Tk 4 crore, was first damaged by Cyclone Remal and further devastated by May’s high tides. While letters for repair allocations have been sent to relevant departments, he could not confirm when repairs would begin, leaving Dhulchar residents stranded in uncertainty and hardship.
