One of the busiest roads in the country is the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway. This two-lane road is used by various vehicles from all over the country. Vehicles heading to the tourist city of Cox's Bazar often meet with accidents in areas like Lohagara's Jangalia or the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary.
During the last Eid, 15 people lost their lives in separate accidents. The sanctuary's hilly, narrow, and winding paths are considered a major cause of these accidents. However, after further investigation, it was found that the water from salt and fish-carrying vehicles made the road slippery, especially in the early morning hours, creating dangerous conditions.
Cox's Bazar is the main salt-producing district in the country, producing around 2.5 million tons of salt. This salt is transported across the country through this road. Saltwater makes The road slippery, so most salt-carrying vehicles travel at night. Fish from the region are also transported across the country in various vehicles, causing saltwater or fish water to spill on the road from early morning to mid-morning, making it extremely slippery.
Accidents occur every year due to this. The administration has repeatedly warned the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and organizations related to the salt industry to be more cautious. They have also been instructed to use extra caution and plastic covers during transport. However, most businesses and vehicle owners ignore these guidelines, leading to frequent accidents, say police, local authorities, and BSCIC officials.
In the Lohagara area alone, more than 90 people have died in separate accidents over the past year, according to locals.
When contacted, Md Motahar Hossan, the regional director of BSCIC Chattogram, told Bonik Barta, "The risk of accidents due to the water spilled from salt-carrying vehicles on the road is not baseless. We are aware of the issue. BSCIC has already taken multiple initiatives to raise awareness among farmers. However, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and other agencies must also expand the road, control vehicle speed, and take legal action when water is spilled from salt-carrying vehicles. BSCIC will inform the Ministry of Industry and other concerned departments to take effective measures."
Yesterday, at around 7:15 am, a collision between a bus and a microbus in the Chunati area of the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway claimed 10 lives. Seven people died on the spot. Two others died while undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, and one more died at the Upazila Health Complex. All the deceased were relatives traveling from Kushtia to Cox's Bazar for the Eid holiday. Earlier on Eid morning, five people were killed in a head-on collision between two buses at the same location.
After visiting the scene, Faruk-E-Azam, adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War and Disaster Management & Relief, told reporters, "The Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway will soon be upgraded to a four-lane road. Work to install speed breakers on both sides of the accident-prone area within one kilometer will begin soon. The BRTA will check whether salt-carrying vehicles are following proper regulations. The highway police have been instructed to stay alert, identify accident-prone areas, strengthen security, regulate vehicle speed, and ensure fewer accidents."
According to sources from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the road accident rate in the Chattogram division has recently decreased. In February and March 2024, the number of accidents and fatalities was in the triple digits. However, in March 2024, the number of accidents and deaths in the Chattogram division dropped to below 50.
Despite the overall decrease in accidents, the situation in the Cox's Bazar region affects the overall statistics. In March, there were 48 accidents in 11 districts, leading to 49 deaths. However, during the Eid holidays, 15 people died in just two days of accidents. Major accidents continue to occur every month on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway.
On February 8, 2022, five brothers died in a tragic accident near Malumghat Bazaar in the Chakaria area of Cox's Bazar. They were returning from their father's funeral when a pickup truck ran over them at 5 am.
Shubh Ranjan Chakma, Officer-in-Charge of the Dohazari Highway Police Station, told Bonik Barta, "The roads in Lohagara, including Jangalia, are uneven. The eastern part of the road is low, and the western part is high. Vehicles lose control on the winding road due to excessive speed. Additionally, the saltwater on the road makes it even more dangerous. Drivers from outside Chattogram and Cox's Bazar are often unaware of these roads' challenges. A collective decision must be made to prevent accidents in Lohagara and this region."
According to sources from the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the distance from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar is about 150 kilometers. Although this is a national highway, expansion projects have not yet been implemented. The section from Chattogram to Keranihat has been widened to 34 feet, but the road leading to Cox's Bazar remains only 20-22 feet wide. This narrow road, even narrower than those in many rural areas, is used by various vehicles traveling to the tourist city of Cox's Bazar from all over the country.
The narrow, winding paths in the hills make it difficult for drivers from other regions to understand the road's characteristics. Particularly at night, when salt and fish-carrying vehicles spill slippery water onto the road, high-speed vehicles are more likely to get into accidents. RHD engineers have warned that if the road is not expanded quickly or measures to reduce traffic risks in the winding sections are not taken, the number of accidents will increase.
A Roads and Highways Department (RHD) engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Bonik Barta, "Most accidents on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway, including Lohagara, occurred in the early morning or at dawn. After salt-carrying vehicles pass, water, sand, and morning fog mix on the road, increasing the risk. There's nothing RHD can do to prevent such accidents. However, feasibility studies are underway to expand the road with funding from JICA. Without road expansion and driver caution, it's impossible to avoid accidents on this road."
According to RHD and related sources, the narrow road in the Lohagara area is partly due to the presence of the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary. In some sections, the road width is only 20 feet. While the section from Chattogram to Keranihat has been widened to 34 feet, many areas in Lohagara and other forest regions have not been expanded. Road expansion cannot be done without permission from the Department of Environment or the Forest Department. As a result, tourist buses, microbuses, and private cars from all over the country continue to use this dangerous road.
Until the road is expanded, experts warn that accidents will not decrease unless strict traffic regulations, speed controls, and increased awareness for cargo vehicles are implemented.
RHD executive engineer (Cox's Bazar) Md Rokan Uddin told Bonik Barta, "After the recent accidents, we visited the scene. Due to multiple accidents, we've recommended road expansion, speed regulations, and instructions for highway police and BRTA to control high-speed vehicles. Before expanding the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway into multiple lanes, we are focusing on preventive measures for accidents. Local authorities will also work on raising awareness to prevent accidents."
The District Commissioner of Cox's Bazar, Md Salahuddin, also believes salt-carrying vehicles play a significant role in accidents on this narrow highway. He told Bonik Barta, "We are addressing this issue. In a recent meeting with stakeholders, instructions were given to BSCIC and the salt traders' association. However, monitoring if plastic covers are not used in salt transportation at night is difficult. Even so, we will inform RHD and higher authorities about this issue. The district administration will do everything necessary to ensure that salt farmers, traders, and transport owners follow the rules."