It is disheartening to learn about the deplorable condition of roads in Pirojpur municipality, where nearly 90 percent reportedly require urgent repairs. According to sources, aside from around 20 kilometres of paved roads and approximately 70 kilometres of earthen roads, most roads across the nine wards remain damaged. For instance, the Dhuppasha Road has been unfit for vehicular movement for nearly a decade. As a result, vehicles are often forced to navigate carefully due to potholes and uneven surfaces, while many residents choose to walk as a safer alternative. Unfortunately, the municipal authorities have taken no meaningful steps to renovate these roads, citing a lack of funds.

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Timely road repairs are vitally needed

Pirojpur's situation is hardly unique. Roads in districts and villages across the country often suffer from the same fate. In many cases, roads become dilapidated soon after construction due to the use of substandard materials. In others, projects remain incomplete or abandoned for years. Numerous reports have exposed the inefficiency, mismanagement, and corruption within the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) that oversees most of these projects. One recent example is a road constructed by LGED in Patuakhali's Bauphal upazila, which collapsed just a day after completion. In another case, an 11-kilometre road in Narayanganj deteriorated within six months of repairs.

Pirojpur's situation is hardly unique. Roads in districts and villages across the country often suffer from the same fate. In many cases, roads become dilapidated soon after construction due to the use of substandard materials. In others, projects remain incomplete or abandoned for years. Numerous reports have exposed the inefficiency, mismanagement, and corruption within the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) that oversees most of these projects.

The condition of bridges is similarly troubling. For instance, in the Amtali upazila of Barguna, the collapse of 10 iron bridges in just eight months severely impacted around 65,000 residents. Likewise, a concrete bridge built over the Banshbaria canal in Patuakhali remains unused due to the absence of approach roads—another example of poor planning and execution.

These cases reflect a chronic lack of attention towards road infrastructure outside the capital and major cities, particularly in rural and municipal areas. A Prothom Alo report from last year noted that about 50 percent of LGED roads required repairs, while many village roads were unusable—a situation that remains largely unchanged to this day. Insufficient budget allocations often delay necessary maintenance, which ends up costing more in the long run. This scenario must change. The government must not only ensure adequate funding for repair but also overhaul its project implementation processes. The practice of awarding contracts to politically connected contractors must end to ensure accountability and quality. For Pirojpur municipality, in particular, immediate fund allocation and repair are paramount.