The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, a lifeline for the country’s trade and commerce, has been plagued by cracks and potholes, particularly along its Cumilla segment, causing serious disruptions to traffic and posing risks to road users. The 105-kilometre stretch from Chauddagram to Daudkandi in Cumilla is in an alarming state, with key sections in Chauddagram Upazila, including Noapara, caving in.  Besides, parts of the two-lane road from Nischintapur to the Cantonment area in Adarsha Sadar Upazila have sustained severe damage. This deterioration has forced drivers of various vehicles, particularly goods-laden ones, to proceed cautiously, resulting in slower traffic and frequent gridlocks.  Biman's capability in ground handling at ‘Third Terminal’ under scrutiny Locals report that traffic snarls and dust pollution have become a daily ordeal for commuters. In the Chandina Bus Stand area, a major portion of the road has collapsed, exacerbating commuter misery.  Beyond the highway, other regional roads in Cumilla are also in disrepair.  The 40-kilometre Cumilla-Sylhet Regional Highway and the 30-kilometre Cumilla-Chandpur Regional Highway are riddled with potholes and narrow stretches, making travel challenging for both drivers and passengers. Impact on Commuters and Drivers Jamil Ahmed Khandaker, president of the Cumilla Motor Association (Bus Owners’ Association), highlighted the severity of the situation, saying, “Several parts of the highway in Cumilla are damaged, causing immense suffering for both drivers and passengers.” People in Chandpur suffer as demand for concrete bridge goes unheeded He called upon authorities to initiate immediate repair work. Abul Hossain, a minibus driver on the Cumilla-Sylhet Regional Highway, described the daily struggles, saying, “The narrow roads, combined with heavy traffic and potholes, have become a constant challenge for drivers.” Abdullah Al Maruf, a passenger from Mujaffarganj, pointed out that while the Cumilla section of the Cumilla-Chandpur Regional Highway is relatively less damaged, the Chandpur section makes travelling extremely difficult. Government Response Suniti Chakma, executive engineer of the Cumilla Roads and Highways Department, acknowledged the issue, attributing the damage to recent floods and heavy rainfall.  “We plan to begin repair work within 15 days,” she assured. Economic Significance of Dhaka-Ctg Highway The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway serves as the primary artery connecting Dhaka with Chattogram, the country's largest port and commercial hub.  This highway facilitates the transport of goods essential for industries such as garments, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, which rely heavily on Chattogram Port for exports and imports. Illegal sand extraction in Feni continues despite political shift Some 80% of Bangladesh’s international trade flows through this route, underlining its critical importance for sustaining the nation’s economic growth. Ensuring proper maintenance of the highway is imperative for reducing traffic congestion and preserving its efficiency as a trade corridor.  Without prompt action, the current state of disrepair threatens not only road safety but also the country’s economic momentum, locals and businesspeople said.

An eight kilometer long tailback has been created on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Narayanganj following excessive rainfall, causing suffering to commuters. Women, children, office-goers and students were the worst sufferers. Many office-goers were seen heading towards their destinations on foot amid the rain as vehicles got stranded on both sides of the highway. Locals said the traffic gridlock started on Wednesday night after the heavy rainfall that submerged some parts of the highway, resulting in an eight km jam stretching from Siddhirganj’s Sanarpara to Bandar’s Keodhala area. One Gafur Hossain, who got stuck in the traffic jam, said he boarded a bus from Shani Akhra at 7am to go to office. The bus could reach Kanchpur Bridge and then it got stranded due to long tailback. “Today I missed the office.” Read: City dwellers suffer amid unusual traffic jams  Another passenger Abdur Rahim alleged that said there have been no efforts by the law enforcement agencies to restore discipline on the road. “I have been stranded in a traffic jam since the morning. The bus in which I am travelling took around one hour to reach the Kanchpur Bridge from the Mouchhak bus stand,” he said. Abu Nayeem, traffic inspector of Kanchpur highway police station, said the traffic gridlock was created after some vehicles went out of order in Keodhala and Langalbandha areas on the waterlogged road and movement of vehicles from the opposite direction. Read more: Bangabazar Market fire in Dhaka causes huge traffic jam “We have already removed some vehicles from the highway and efforts are on to remove the rest,” he said, adding that they have been facing trouble in performing duty due to heavy rain. Several teams have been working to reduce the traffic jam, he said hoping that the normalcy on the road will return soon.

A youth was arrested on Sunday (March 17, 2024) after a video of him went viral on social media where he could be seen lending ladders to bus passengers in exchange of Tk5 on a highway in Narayanganj . AKM Sharifuddin, In charge of Kanchpur Highway Shimla Police Camp, said they arrested him after watching the viral video. Risky road crossing had become a common scene in the 3.3 km area for the past two months as there were no crossing points from the long distance route's road to the regional road which is at least 24 minutes walking distance. With 3 more demises today, death toll from Gazipur gas cylinder blast rises to 6 For the past two months, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) authority has kept the crossing point at Dhaka-bound road from Kanchpur Bridge in Siddhirganj to Kuwait Plaza area closed. As a result, passengers have been crossing roads by jumping the lane's divider. According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the four-lane Dhaka-bound road from Kanchpur Bridge in Siddhirganj to Kuwait Plaza area was divided into two lanes with high dividers to stop risky road crossing and to ensure long-distance vehicles' direct route to Dhaka. A gate was kept open in front of the RHD office for the movement of passengers from long-distance lanes to regional lanes, but the RHD authorities closed it two months ago. Abantika’s death: JnU students place 6-point demand Narayanganj RHD's Executive Engineer Shahana Ferdous said, they tried several times to enforce the movement of bus services in the designated service line with Highway Police, but they failed to enforce it.

If the highway renovation work in Sirajganj is not completed soon, there are chances of massive traffic jam, and homebound Eid holiday makers would have to endure extreme difficulties. As construction work on the highway continues, district police have identified 14 high-risk areas. Proposals have been submitted to the authorities concerned for the renovation of 20 bridges spanning about 51 km of the Chandaikona highway from the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge to Hatikumrul. There is risk of severe traffic congestion at the 14 high-risk points. Every year before Eid, all the vehicles carrying homebound commuters pass through the Bangabandhu Bridge-West Highway. As a result, there is extra pressure on this highway. Read More: Advance sale of train tickets for Eid travellers starts Friday It is expected that the roads on this route will be repaired by the second week of this month. Bus and truck drivers, in particular, say that if the work on the highway is completed, there will be relief during Eid journey. People of 16 districts of north Bangladesh use this highway to go home from Dhaka during Eid. Every day, 16,000 to 20,000 vehicles use this highway, and during Eid, 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles ply it. Work is underway to widen and repair the four-lane highway – connecting the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge. It has already caused traffic congestion and slow movement on the highway. Besides, the north lane of the newly constructed Nalka Bridge has been opened, but the Dhaka-facing lane has been closed. Traffic is moving through the risky old bridge. The contractor, Akhter JV Project’s Manager Ekhlas Uddin said that discussions have already been held with the Sirajganj Superintendent of Police. Read More: Special train service on Joyedbpur-Panchagarh route for RMG workers for Eid: BR On the highway, potholes will be repaired soon. New four-lane roads have been opened in different parts of the highway. Officials of the local Roads and Highways Department said the renovation work on the risky points on the highway has been supervised. Badrul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station, said two rounds of discussions were held among the district police, officials of SASEC-2, and officials of the contractor company. They have assured to complete the repair work soon. On the occasion of Eid, 10 mobile teams and 16 picket teams will work on the highway. In addition, mikes and digital sign will be installed. Sirajganj Traffic Inspector (Administration) Salekuzzaman Khan said they spoke to the district police regarding ensuring smooth flow of traffic before Eid. There will be 15 to 18 mobile teams on the highway. Work has already started to ease the traffic congestion. Senior police officials mentioned that arrangements have been made to make the Eid journey of the homebound people uninterrupted. Read More: Eid journey: Nat’l Committee demands bike ban on highways for 9 days

Bangladesh's National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways today (April 03, 2023) demanded a ban on motorbike movement on all highways for at least 9 days before, during and after Eid. The organisation also called for taking strict action to stop the movement of three-wheelers and charging extra bus fare on all inter-district roads, including highways, during Eid travel. The national committee President Haji Mohammad Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey made this call in a statement. Besides, leaders of the civic organisation demanded to stop the movement of unregistered, defective and unauthorized vehicles on all roads and highways of the country. Read More: National Committee for taking action against lakhs of illegal vessels They also urged Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to strengthen the operation of mobile court and law enforcement agencies, including police, to implement these demands. Emphasizing safe and hassle-free Eid travel, the statement said that the number of motorcycle accidents across the country is increasing at a geometric rate. Motorcycle accidents accounted for more than 40 percent of all road crashes last year. There is a fear of more mishaps during the Eid season due to the long-distance commute on these two-wheelers. Small and unsafe vehicles slow down larger vehicles like buses and trucks on highways and inter-district roads, the statement said. This increases the risk of accidents and traffic jams. Despite the government ban, various types of three-wheelers including battery-powered rickshaws and numerous locally made vehicles such as Nasimon, Karimon, Bhotbhoti and Alam Sadhu are plying the highways and inter-district roads across the country. Read More: National Committee for reducing metro rail fare by 50% Citing examples from the near past, the statement of the national committee alleged that on many roads, various transport companies charge commuters one-and-a-half to double the fare on every Eid trip. As a result, bus owners and workers earn extra money, but general people are suffering financial losses.

RMG workers set a truck on fire and vandalised several other vehicles, blocking Dhaka-Tangail highway following a coworker’s death in a road accident on the highway in Kaliakoir of Gazipur this morning. Atikur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Salna Highway Police Station, said a worker died as a bus hit him while crossing the highway in Hartakitola area this morning. Read more: RMG workers set fire to 4 buses over rumour in Gazipur The deceased was identified as Azadul Haque, 40, of Gaibandha. He used to work as a security guard at a denim factory in Chandra area. Agitated by the incident, RMG workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, vandalised vehicles on both sides of the highway, and set a truck on fire, said the OC. Read more: RMG workers stage demo for arrears in Gazipur; 10 hurt in clash with cops Later, police brought the situation under control, he added.

Three members of a family were among five dead and three others were injured in a collision that involved a truck, a pick-up, and a microbus on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in the early hours of Saturday (January 07, 2023). The deceased are microbus driver Sadir Ali, 25, of Kamlatila village, Abdus Salam, 32, of Barachara village under Kamalganj upazila; Sadia, 21, wife of Abdus Salam, their two-year-old daughter Habiba, and Sadia’s brother Atiqur Rahman Shihab, 15.     Read more: Road crash leaves two dead in Keraniganj Ashraful Alam, a relative of the victims, said all the passengers of the microbus were relatives who were returning home after receiving a relative named Razu, a Bangladeshi expatriate in Malaysia, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.    Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Madhabpur police station, said the accident occurred when a Moulvibazar-bound microbus collided head-on with a pick-up and a truck when the pick-up was trying to overtake the truck — leaving the driver of the microbus and four other passengers of the vehicle dead on the spot.  Read more: Bagerhat road crash leaves 3 dead The injured were first rushed to Madhabpur Upazila Health Complex and later were shifted to Sylhet Medical College Hospital. The victims’ bodies were handed over to the highway police.  

Two people were killed in a collision between two trucks on Dhaka-Mawa Bangabandhu Highway in Keraniganj upazila of Dhaka early Wednesday. The deceased were identified as truck driver Hossain Sheikh, 25, and helper of another truck Imon, 19. Details of the deceased could not be known yet. Read more: Schoolboy killed in Dhaka road crash Utfal Kumar, sub inspector of Hasada highway police station, said the accident occurred around 2am when a speeding Dhaka-bound truck from Mawa rammed into a stationary truck in Rajendarapur area, leaving the duo dead on the spot. The Highway police station’s OC Molla Jakir Hossain said they seized the trucks after the accident. Read more: One dead, five injured in Bagerhat road crash A case was filed in this connection.

Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barishal highways were thrown open on Tuesday (October 25, 2022) morning, nearly 10 hours after remaining closed for vehicular movement in the wake of uprooted trees blocking several stretches during Cyclone Sitrang. Around 8:30 pm on Monday, the front part of the cyclone started lashing Bangladesh, uprooting trees. "As the fallen trees blocked at least 80km areas on the two highways, the movement of vehicles had to be suspended," said Taimur Alam, officer-in-charge of Bhanga highway police station. On Tuesday, around 7am, vehicular movement resumed on the two highways after highway police and fire service removed the fallen trees after the rain and storm stopped, said the OC. Read Dhaka office-goers stuck in gridlock, traffic jam from Khilkhet to Abdullahpur During heavy rains and storm influenced by the cyclone, trees broke down in the Talma Pukuria area on the Dhaka-Barishal highway and in Majhra, Majhigati, Risatala, Joy Bangla, Kailar Mor, Mansurabad on the Dhaka-Khulna highway, said police and fire officials. Cyclone Sitrang crossed the Barishal-Chattogram coast near Bhola on Monday midnight and weakened rapidly into a depression by giving precipitation, the met office said in its latest bulletin. Sitrang moved north-northeastwards very fast and completed crossing the Barishal-Chattogram coast, and it now lies over Dhaka-Cumilla-Brahmanbaria and adjoining areas as a land depression, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Read Cyclone Sitrang weakens into depression

Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared six development projects, including the Tk 7,189 crore project to upgrade Cumilla-Brahmanbaria National Highway to four lanes. The highway from Mainamati of Cumilla to Dharkhar of Brahmanbaria will be upgraded into a four-lane one, with separate lanes for slow vehicles on both sides, by June 2026. The project aims to establish fast, safe and cost-effective road connectivity between Sylhet and Chattogram regions. The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by its chair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined the event through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Also read: Ecnec postpones Tk 236-crore project of Teletalk to save dollars “The total estimated cost of the six approved projects is some Tk 8,739.68 crore (only additional costs of three revised projects were included),” Planning Minister MA Mannan said at a press briefing after the meeting was held at the NEC Conference Room. Of the total cost, Tk 5,929.03 crore will be drawn from the government’s fund, while the rest Tk 2,810.65 crore will come as foreign loan, he said. According to the Planning Commission, the project titled ‘Upgrading Cumilla (Mainamati)-Brahmanbaria (Dharkhar) National Highway into Four Lanes’ will be executed at the cost of Tk 7,188.66 crore. Also read: Metro Rail (MRT Line-6) project cost goes up by Tk 11,486 cr; Gets Ecnec nod The government will finance Tk 4,378 crore and the rest Tk 2,810.65 crore will come from the Indian Line of Credit (LoC). The major project operations are acquisition of 103 hectares of lands, construction of 14 bridges (with total length of 1,218.44 meters), one 1,030-meter flyover, two underpasses, 50 culverts, 12 foot-over bridges, 50-km flexible pavement and 4.5-km rigid pavement.