Editorial
Encroachment on highway
High time to curb it
Roads and highways connecting different districts have turned extremely hazardous as farmers encroach on them for threshing and drying of crops during harvesting seasons.
A report in the Tuesday's issue of this paper depicts how a big chunk of the Dinajpur-Dhaka highway at Saidpur is being used up for post-harvest purposes posing a serious risk for the movement of all types of vehicles, motorised ones in particular.
Such occupation of roads is not only illegal but can also cause accidents, let alone interfering with the easement rights of other road users. Roads are public properties and cannot be used for any private purposes.
We can understand such unwarranted spillages on the roads in the face of ever-reducing spaces for households, but that cannot justify such a malpractice.
The increase in traffic movement has worsened the condition of these roads further, especially with the onset of the rainy season.
As it is, sizeable proportions of roads and highways have been in a state of disrepair.
Add to the obstructions, roadside weekly bazaars and stray or tethered domestic animals grazing on the roadsides, you have a huge risk factor for the highway traffic.
Local administration, local government authorities included, needs to look into the issue and find ways to stop the practice. The authorities must have designated spaces for permanent use of farmers for threshing and drying purposes throughout the year. At the same time squatting wayside bazaars will have to be prohibited.
In order to discourage villagers from using roads in the wrong way and making them aware of the risks involved, publicity wings of the government should launch a nationwide propaganda on the media as well as through their local offices.
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