A key brick-soling road from Islamapur Alim Madrasa through Amtala to Bottola Bazar in Jahangirnagar Union of Babuganj Upazila, Barishal, remains unpaved 21 years after construction. The roughly seven-foot-wide road has developed numerous potholes because of prolonged lack of maintenance, creating severe hardship for students, farmers, patients and other residents. Vehicle movement on the damaged route has become risky.

Residents said the Local Government Engineering Department built the road more than two decades ago, but it has received no major upgrade since. Conditions worsen during the monsoon, affecting students travelling to Islamapur Alim Madrasa, Agarpur Degree College and other institutions. Drivers, farmers and students reported frequent accidents, vehicle damage and higher costs to transport agricultural produce to market. Union Parishad Chairman Kamrul Ahsan Khan Himu said he is aware of the road’s condition and that efforts are under way to upgrade it from brick soling to a paved road.