There were 506 road accidents across the country in July, leaving 520 people dead. The information comes from the voluntary organization Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association. According to its observation, roads and highways across the country have been severely damaged this monsoon. Potholes of various sizes have formed in many areas. The organization believes that these broken and damaged roads have now become one of the main causes of accidents. Bonik Barta’s investigation also found broken conditions and numerous accident-prone potholes and craters on major national, regional, district, and rural roads, including in the capital Dhaka.
The Dhaka–Chattogram Highway, known as the lifeline of the country’s economy, carries most import and export goods by truck and lorry. This monsoon, the highway has developed numerous potholes and craters. From Kanchpur to the Meghna Bridge toll plaza, at least 14 kilometers of the road have been causing frequent fatal accidents due to these potholes. Similarly, the nearly 105-kilometer stretch from Chauddagram to Daudkandi in Cumilla has also become dangerous.
Another key highway is the Khulna–Satkhira route, which connects to the Bhomra land port. The condition of this highway has also deteriorated badly. In particular, the five-kilometer stretch from Zero Point to Kaiya has become hazardous for travel. Countless potholes are causing daily accidents on this route, and people face extreme suffering when traveling.
Alongside highways, many roads in remote areas have also been damaged this monsoon. In Burimari Union of Patgram in Lalmonirhat, one road has been in poor condition for a long time, and recent floods have made it worse. Last Monday, local residents formed a human chain demanding repairs.
In big cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, and Rajshahi, the condition of roads has also worsened this monsoon. Broken roads are causing accidents daily, with many losing their lives and others being left permanently disabled.
The condition of roads and highways across the country has worsened this monsoon, leading to more accidents, according to a statement released yesterday by the voluntary organization Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association. The organization says that due to numerous potholes on rain-damaged roads and highways nationwide, accidents involving speeding vehicles have sharply increased. It also urged the government’s relevant authorities to take urgent steps to repair these roads and to develop strategies for building and maintaining rain-resistant roads.
Multiple agencies handle road construction and maintenance in Bangladesh. The largest local road network is managed by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). At the upazila, union, and rural levels, LGED oversees about 250,000 kilometers of roads, with over 161,000 kilometers of paved roads. Despite these roads being in poor condition for a long time, there are complaints that LGED’s maintenance activities are not properly carried out. However, repeated attempts to contact LGED’s Chief Engineer Abdur Rashid Miah for comments yesterday were unsuccessful.
The responsibility for building and maintaining the country’s most important national, regional, and district highways lies with the Roads and Highways Department (RHD). The department manages around 22,500 kilometers of roads and highways. RHD’s Chief Engineer, Syed Moinul Hasan, acknowledged the poor road conditions caused by recent floods. He told Bonik Barta, “It can’t be denied. Due to rain, we are unable to do bitumen work in many places. Also, ongoing traffic during work often damages the work already done. Since rainfall has been heavier this year, we have been unable to properly maintain the roads. I would say we are quite helpless before nature. But we are not sitting idle. Our engineers and workers across the country are doing their best to keep the roads in good condition. We hope the situation will improve as the monsoon ends.”
Many roads and highways in the capital Dhaka are also in poor condition this monsoon. Almost every major road in the city is full of potholes. These potholes not only cause accidents but also worsen the city’s traffic congestion. The two city corporations are responsible for road construction and repairs in Dhaka. Dhaka South City Corporation’s (DSCC) Chief Engineer, Md Asaduzzaman, said they are working to repair the roads quickly. He told Bonik Barta, “There has been heavy rain every day this season. Because of that, many bitumen roads have potholes. Whenever the weather improves, we are carrying out repair works. Last night, for example, we repaired several spots. Repair work is ongoing and continuous. But when the weather is bad, there isn’t much we can do. We are currently repairing the bad roads in the Dhaka South City area as fast as possible.”