Encroachment of roads, sidewalks causing heavy traffic

Most the roads, highways and even the sidewalk in Bogura city are experiencing heavy traffic congestion due to encroachment. One road after another is being illegally encroached and the highways have turned into parking zones. Buses and trucks are being parked in front of highway hotels, vehicle servicing centers and workshops day after day.

However, not only the highways, but also the roads inside the city are being encroached on in the same way. Temporary markets are being set up not only on the main roads, but also on the sidewalks. The roads are blocked by a crowd of buyers and sellers all day long. Traffic jams take a terrible turn, especially during office and school-college holidays. Locals allege that this chaos is becoming more apparent day by day due to the irresponsibility of the municipal authorities and weak supervision of the highway police.

Negligence in municipality's responsibilities
All over Bogura city, temporary shops are being set up by encroaching on roads and sidewalks, resulting in increasing suffering of common people.

In the city's Kathaltala area, permanent markets set up along the road. Despite this long-standing occupation, no initiative has been taken to permanently evict the spot. The road in Kathaltala includes Churipatti, Fateh Ali and Rajabazar—where thousands of people move every day. Fruit markets are set up on the road in this busy area, due to which traffic congestion has become terrible.

Not only in Kathaltala, but also in the Satmatha area, shops are occupying roads and sidewalks. Even though evictions are carried out occasionally, those do not last. Within a few days, the roads and sidewalks are occupied again.

When asked about this, Bogura Municipality Administrator and Deputy Director of Local Government Masum Ali Beg told Views Bangladesh: "We occasionally conduct raids and vacate the roads. After that, markets or temporary shops are set up on the roads again. An eviction drive will be launched soon."

Highway occupation
One lane of the Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Bogura from Tinmatha to Matidali is closed almost all day long due to buses and trucks occupying it at various places. At times, vehicles are also stopped on the highway for personal purposes, resulting in severe disruption of communication. Despite this, locals complain that the highway police have not taken any visible action. This has become a daily occurrence for the public, and a chaotic situation has also been created on the roads.

Every night, one lane of the Dhaka-Bogura highway is completely occupied in the Majhira and Naymail areas of Shajahanpur upazila. Buses are parked in front of the Jabbar Highway Hotel in Majhira and the Taj Highway Hotel in Noimile during the journey. This prevents small and large vehicles from plying on that section. If a vehicle enters by mistake, it has to be turned around and exited later.

When asked about this, Highway Police Superintendent Md. Shahid Ullah said: "Parking cars on the highway is illegal. We have complaints that highway hotels are occupying the roads and parking vehicles. We think that the problem will be solved to a large extent if the illegal structures built on the side of the road are demolished. We have already spoken to the Deputy Commissioner and a campaign to free the highway from encroachment will start soon."

Sidewalk and road encroachment
In Bogura, there are many cases of houses and boundary walls being built by occupying the sidewalk. Temporary shops have been set up on the sidewalk and road in the Satmatha, Colony and Banani areas of the city. In Banani area, the Village Development Corporation (GDC) has built a wall over the sidewalk at one place, and a house next to it has completely occupied the sidewalk.

Executive Engineer of Bogura Roads and Highways Department, Abul Mansur Ahmed said: "We often conduct campaigns to free the road from encroachment. But after a few days, illegal structures are built again. A permanent solution is possible if the sidewalk traders are rehabilitated."

Regarding the occupation of the sidewalk by the GDC, he said: "Necessary measures will be taken after investigating this matter."

When calling the GDC number, a person identified as Jahangir Alam said: "We did not occupy the sidewalk. You come and see for yourself."

However, visiting the spot, it was found that the entire sidewalk in front of a house had been occupied. A wall built by the GDC has risen above the sidewalk next to it.

Citizens' anger
At least 20 residents, including Ashraful Alam and Sagar Hossain, said that the occupation of sidewalks and roads in the city has now become a normal occurrence. They are suffering every day due to severe traffic congestion. This problem is gradually increasing due to the irresponsibility of the local administration.

According to them, a specific plan is needed to solve the problem of traffic congestion and illegal occupation in the city. Strict administrative steps must be taken to implement that plan. This crisis can be solved by evicting road squatters, establishing alternative markets, and determining specific routes for vehicles.