Dhubri, Feb. 26: Residents of this town and its suburbs (Jhagrarpar and Khalilpur villages) staged a sit-in today in support of their 15-point demand, including construction of roads and drains in wards 14, 15 and 16, completion of a stadium and supply of drinking water in all the 16 wards.

The residents, who staged a protest at Senpara More in western Dhubri, said despite being one of oldest and historical towns of Assam, Dhubri suffers acute lack of basic civic amenities. They said they had taken to the street to draw the attention of Dhubri Municipal Board and the district administration to their demand for these legitimate amenities.

The protesters, led by social activist Shyamal Sanyal, alleged that the busy Mission Road, which is the longest PWD road of the town and an alternative road connecting Gauripur, has been in a dilapidated condition for long.

"Many important establishments are dotted along Mission Road but neither the municipal board nor the district administration pay any attention to maintain it," Sanyal alleged.

Speaking at the sit-in, advocate Ranjit Ghose said the town should be expanded along Mora Gadadhar river by erecting embankment-cum-road and market sheds should also be constructed for vendors, who by encroaching roads and pavements, create problems for traffic and pedestrians.

Abul Hussain, a social activist, also raised various issues facing the residents. He said the town's tax payers want to know from the board why, despite paying urban tax regularly, they were deprived of civic amenities like drinking water, roads, bylanes, streetlights and cleanliness.

The 15-point demand includes introduction of long-distance trains, appointment of physicians and para-medical staff in Dhubri civil hospital and a 20-bed maternity hospital.