Jamalpur Correspondent:

In Kamrabad union of Jamalpur’s Sarishabari upazila, visitors are met with an unusual sight — a small community clinic standing alone amid a vast paddy field.

The Char Dharaborsha Community Clinic, built on eight decimals of land, donated by a local, was constructed in 2013 at a cost of Tk 20 lakh under the Directorate General of Health Services.

Although it has been operational since June 2015, even after 12 years no access road has been built leading to the clinic. Patients face severe inconvenience as they must walk about 300 metres along narrow ridges through cropland to reach it.

Nearly 10,000 people from nearby villages depend on the clinic for healthcare services.

Patients and health workers said landowners often verbally abuse them for crossing their paddy fields.

While movement is somewhat possible during the dry season, during monsoon and floods people have to rely on banana rafts or small boats, or trudge through mud and water to reach the clinic, said Alauddin Sheikh, an elderly resident.

Anguri Begum, another local, said, “No one wants to give up their land for a road. So the access road could not be constructed even in 12 years.”

Asmaul Husna, a healthcare provider at the clinic, said, “It’s a struggle to come to work here daily. Patients have to walk along field ridges and then climb stairs to reach the clinic. Many don’t return after visiting once.”

Contacted, Dr Debashish Rajbangshi, upazila health and family planning officer in Sarishabari, said, “We’ve already informed the higher authorities in this regard. Steps will be taken to construct an access road to the clinic soon.”