Hundreds of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University students are suffering due to the poor condition of the road to the campus from Trishal in Mymensingh. The uncountable potholes and cracks in the roadway have been left unrepaired for a long time.

"It's difficult to attend classes on time because of the dilapidated road," says Sajib Ahmed, a final year student of the Human Resources Management Department. This year's heavy rainfall has added salt to our wounds, he added.

Students, along with local residents have made several demands over recent months to the municipality mayor for the road's repair, but to no effect.

"It seems we are crying in the woods with none to hear us," lamented one student, Sumaiya Sadmin.

Not only students are affected, but visitors to the country's lone culture-based university must also rely on the poor quality road. With the nearby attraction of Nazrul Smriti Kendra at Namapara in Trishal where Nazrul stayed during his boyhood, visitors are many. We feel embarrassed that the painful journey is for visitors their first impression of our campus, students said.

Mohit Ul Alam, vice-chancellor of the university said that because the institution is yet to provide residential facilities for all students, many have to attend classes from residences outside the campus, which means they face serious transport difficulties. Only 700 students out of some 4000 students at the university currently live on campus.

The road must be repaired soon, urged the vice-chancellor.

ABM Anisuzzaman, the mayor of Trishal municipality said, "I submitted a proposal of Tk 1 crore 87 lakh for a grant from the World Bank last month and it might be approved soon. We can start the repair work after approval."