Pabna residents face severe disruption as crumbling infrastructure and drainage failures trigger urban flooding
Photo Collected
Pabna town is grappling with a severe infrastructure crisis as crumbling roads and a collapsed drainage system have rendered major thoroughfares impassable following recent rains. Residents across the first-class municipality report that minor rainfall now triggers extensive waterlogging, paralyzing daily life, obstructing traffic, and stifling local commerce.
A recent survey of the town reveals that key arteries—including the Ataikula, Hospital, and Tarak Pramanik roads—are riddled with deep potholes. In areas such as Dilalpur, Radhanagar, Shalgariya, and Shibrampur, roads are frequently submerged under murky, debris-filled water, forcing pedestrians and vehicle operators to navigate hazardous conditions. Local residents complain that the failure to maintain drainage infrastructure, compounded by the unauthorized filling of ponds and the degradation of the Ichamati River, has prevented rainwater from receding for hours, or in some cases, leaving areas permanently waterlogged.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The impact on the community is profound. Parents report extreme difficulty in ensuring children can safely reach schools, while public transport operators, such as rickshaw drivers, face constant vehicle damage and accidents caused by submerged hazards. For local businesses, the situation has become a significant economic liability. Amirul Islam, an oil mill owner in Kalachand Para, noted that the poor condition of major delivery routes prevents transport trucks from reaching his facility, disrupting operations and hurting profitability.
Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industry director A.B.M. Fazlur Rahman echoed these frustrations, noting that despite Pabna’s status as a first-class municipality, residents have seen little evidence of meaningful development or maintenance. Many stakeholders attribute the stagnation to long-term neglect, pointing out that broken sewers frequently overflow, depositing waste onto the streets and creating significant health risks for those forced to walk through the stagnant pools.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Addressing the crisis, Khairul Islam, the Deputy Director of the Local Government Division currently serving as the Pabna municipal administrator, stated that authorities are actively monitoring the situation. He acknowledged the severity of the drainage issues and confirmed that initiatives are underway to clean existing drains, launch new construction projects, and repair damaged road segments. While the administration expressed optimism that these efforts will soon resolve the ongoing plight, many residents remain wary, citing years of unfulfilled promises and the continued deterioration of urban services.
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