Kushtia District and Sessions Judge Court is facing serious operational disruptions due to structural damage and poor drainage, according to court officials and staff.

Water leaks through the roof during rainfall, damaging important documents, while chunks of ceiling plaster have fallen, posing a physical risk to employees. 

The building, which houses the two-storey court, reportedly remains surrounded by water during the entire monsoon season because of an inadequate drainage system.

Employees and justice seekers are being forced to operate under hazardous conditions, with files at risk of water damage. 

Several officials have blamed the Public Works Department (PWD) for years of negligence and ineffective repair work.

On the other hand, district PWD authorities said the situation stems from the failure to renovate the decades-old structure.

However, full-fledged work is underway until a new building is constructed, authorities added.

“There are cracks on the roof, water leaks through, and plaster often falls off,” said Mizanur Rahman, Nazir of the Kushtia court. 

He said, “Some rooms store important legal files, which are getting damaged. We want a permanent solution to this.”

“The drainage system at the court premises is terrible. Even a single day of rain causes waterlogging. Sometimes judges have to walk barefoot through water to reach court. We've been requesting repairs for years, but they only do temporary fixes. We want a permanent remedy.”

Fazlur Rahman, president of the Judicial Employees' Association in Kushtia, said, “At any moment, roof can collapse. We demand either permanent repairs or a new building.”

Shamimul Hasan Apu, government prosecutor at the Special Court in Kushtia, criticised the repeated symbolic repair work and called for urgent action.

Admitting the court building’s age is a factor, Kushtia's Sub-Divisional Engineer of the PWD, Faruk Hossain, said a technical team has already assessed the site. 

He said, “They are studying the feasibility of retrofitting and strengthening the building. Until a new building is built, implementing this work will ease the current risks and suffering.”

He added that resolving the waterlogging will require joint action by the municipality, roads department, and PWD. “The major connected drains were built following the slope of the main roads, which are higher in elevation. As a result, water from the flat court area cannot drain properly.”

Kushtia Municipality officials declined to comment, but the municipal authority claimed they are continuously working to improve drainage infrastructure.

MSK/SMS