Negligence of former local representatives puts Jamgora residents in misery

At first glance, one might think they’re walking along the bank of a small river, with waves crashing against both shores. But that illusion vanishes within seconds. There are no launches or boats here—only hundreds of vehicles braving the waterlogged road, and thousands of people wading through it daily.

This scene is a year-round reality in the Jamgora area along the Abdullahpur-Baipail road. While the road itself may change over the years, the 1.5-kilometer stretch through Jamgora remains perpetually waterlogged and hazardous—an unchanging picture of suffering. Accidents occur regularly, some even fatal. Recently, two garment workers lost their lives after falling into a submerged pothole.

This busy section of the road runs through a densely populated area from Jamgora in Ashulia to the Unique Bus Stand. Due to constant waterlogging, both locals and road users face immense hardships throughout the year.

The situation stems from the elevation of adjacent land, lack of a proper sewage system, no planned drainage for industrial waste, and illegal encroachment of canals—all contributing to the crisis.

A field visit revealed that for several years now, residents have had to navigate through chemically tainted water discharged by nearby garment factories. Even a little rain causes the filthy, foul-smelling water to spill over into businesses and homes. When rain persists for extended periods, the misery multiplies.

Locals report that accidents frequently occur along this 1.5 km stretch—people walk or drive at their own peril. In one recent incident, a laguna (local vehicle) overturned in a pothole in Jamgora, killing two garment workers and injuring several others. Auto-rickshaws often flip, injuring passengers.

Residents accuse both the local administration and former public representatives of failing to address the drainage issue. In fact, they allege that the former chairman of Ashulia’s Yearpur Union Parishad and his son—who succeeded him—actually aided in the illegal occupation of canals.

Locals also claim that the father-son duo deliberately increased the distance from the remaining canal to the affected area, worsening the situation. Even after repeated calls from the Ashulia Elevated Expressway authorities, the duo took no initiative to address the water drainage problem.

On-site inspection shows that the stretch from Jamgora Choytola to the Unique Bus Stand lies entirely underwater. Surrounded by elevated houses and factories, the road lacks any means of water removal. There are no drainage systems to redirect wastewater from the road or surrounding properties. With the main drainage connections also severed, dirty water stagnates throughout the year, forcing residents, students, and garment workers to walk through it daily.

While some small drains exist in front of various establishments, the water ultimately ends up on the road. Many canal inlets have been occupied by industrial and residential property owners.

According to various sources, the Ashulia Elevated Expressway authorities issued warning letters to several garment factories, businesses, and building owners—such as the Baishakhi Garments—for dumping waste water directly onto the road. Despite repeated complaints, former chairman Shamim Ahmed Bhuiyan and his father Syed Ahmed Bhuiyan remained largely silent during their tenures. Though they gave verbal assurances, no actions were taken. On the contrary, they allegedly struck deals with factory and building owners to avoid responsibility.

Shorna Begum, a female garment worker at a factory beside the Abdullahpur-Baipail road, shared her ordeal:
“To get to work, I have to wade through knee-deep water—sometimes even deeper. I’ve fallen so many times I’ve lost count. Accidents happen here every day—people break arms and legs. Many have no choice but to leave their jobs or move away.”

She added, “The dirty water has caused skin rashes. I had to leave my two children at home. But what can I do? I have to work.”

Sharif Chowdhury, a Jamgora resident and building owner, said,
“We haven’t had a solution in over a decade. We pay holding taxes and all other dues, but get no public services in return. During the father and son’s chairmanship, I filed complaints and even offered money to build drainage systems, but nothing was done. With no system in place, many are forced to drain their household wastewater onto the road. As a result, potholes have formed, like the one that caused the laguna accident. Accidents happen every day.”

Attempts to reach local representatives by phone were unsuccessful. The current acting chairman of Yearpur Union Parishad is Upazila Agriculture Officer Al Mamun. He said,
“I took office in January and haven’t received any such complaints yet. But if I do, I’ll definitely take action.”

He added, “If people share the problems with me, I’ll work to resolve them. I can’t speak for the negligence of those who held the position before me.”