The local people are very happy as a road is being built on the dried up tributary of the Teesta river in Sundarganj upazila of the district.

The road between Belka Bazar and Kashim Bazar will facilitate movement of pedestrians as well as the transportation of goods in the char areas.

Belka Union Parishad started construction of the nearly one- kilometre road two months ago under the Local Government Support Project of Tk 80,000 funded by World Bank. Construction of around 400 metres of the road has already been completed with the cooperation of the local people.

However, a road on char (landmass emerging from riverbed) land is not sustainable round the year as it might be washed away by surging water in the rainy season, said UP Chairman Ibrahim Khalilullah.

He said it is essential for easy movement of the char people during dry season.

“People face immense trouble crossing the sandy chars and knee to waist-deep stagnant water accumulated in the riverbed in the dry season”, said Abu Bakkar Siddique. He said farmers and traders cannot transport their goods and agriculture produce to the markets, he said, adding that the road will help the local people to move easily and transport their goods quickly.

“This road will be very helpful for the local people as there is no road on the char,” said Ekramul Huq of char Nawabganj in Belka union.

If the road can last through the rainy season, more roads will be constructed in the chars to connect remote areas with the mainland, said Saghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Golam Kibria.