United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka-Chattogram highway, a lifeline for the country’s trade and commerce, has turned into a death trap with 152 fatalities and 137 injuries recorded in 171 road crashes between January and December last year. Despite being one of the busiest highways in the country—stretching 163.7 kilometers from Chattogram’s Alongkar area to Dhaka’s Sayedabad—the highway lacks adequate safety measures to reduce accidents. Additional Deputy Inspector General of Cumilla Highway Range Highway Police Khairul Alam told UNB that 138 cases were filed over these accidents during the same period. Eighty-eight complaints were lodged over vehicles plying the highway and final reports of 50 complaints were submitted, he said. Highway police, responsible for maintaining discipline on the route, blamed reckless driving as the primary cause. Other contributing factors include drivers ignoring lane rules, overtaking dangerously, and speeding. Unplanned U-turn at Padua Bazar on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway turns into a death trap Alongside maintaining order, highway police are also tackling smuggling and drug trafficking, said Khairul Alam. Last year, they seized 235,600 kg of cannabis worth Tk 1,884,800 and recovered 20 bottles of Indian Phensedyl worth Tk 6,000. Besides, law enforcers confiscated 2,045 CNG-run autorickshaws, 1,356 battery-run autorickshaws, 1,634 rickshaws, and 21 other illegal vehicles from the highway. To improve efficiency, several initiatives have been taken, said DIG Khairul Alam. Previously, fines for traffic rules violations on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Cumilla-Sylhet highways could only be paid via United Commercial Bank’s mobile banking service, Upay. Now, violators can instantly deposit fines into the government treasury through 21 different mobile banking services, including bKash and Rocket, as well as various bank cards, he said. 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. How long will Bangladesh’s highways remain deadly? Some 80% of Bangladesh’s international trade flows through this route, underlining its critical importance for sustaining the nation’s economic growth. Without prompt action to ensure road safety the country’s economic momentum will be threatened, locals and businesspeople said.

A poorly designed U-turn at Padua Bazar Biswa Road on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway has become a death trap, claiming at least 50 lives and injuring hundreds over the past 11 years. The Dhaka-Chattogram highway, a key corridor for thousands of vehicles travelling between the capital and major eastern districts like Chattogram and Noakhali, has been plagued by frequent accidents at this location. Experts and locals blame the flawed design of the U-turn for the alarming number of crashes, resulting in severe casualties and significant property damage. A Dangerous Design Mistake According to residents, the hazardous U-turn forces vehicles into dangerous maneuvers amid high-speed traffic, increasing the likelihood of collisions. They argue that a flyover should have been constructed instead, ensuring smooth and safe traffic movement. “The government had initially planned to build a flyover from Srivallabhpur in the west to North Rampur in the east, allowing uninterrupted traffic flow over the highway and railway line,” said a local transport operator. “Had that been implemented, vehicles from Chattogram Port, Dhaka-Chattogram, and Chattogram-Feni regions could have moved seamlessly instead of facing this deadly U-turn," he said. For reasons unknown, the flyover project was never executed, leaving drivers and pedestrians vulnerable to repeated tragedies. DNCC opens 3 more U-Turns on Satrasta-Uttara road Victims of accidents at this location include both local residents and travellers from across the country. At least 23 victims have been identified, including Shahid Ullah and Md. Abdur Razzak from North Rampur, as well as Nadia Akhter Majumder from Gojaria. Demands for Accountability and Compensation Kamal Hasan Raihan, a resident of Uttarmpur village, expressed deep frustration over the lack of action, saying, “More than 50 people have died here in the past decade, while hundreds have suffered serious injuries. We demand accountability from the authorities and immediate compensation for the victims’ families.” Advocate Muhammad Akhtar Hossain, president of the Cumilla South District Farmers' Cooperative Unity Council, confirmed that political leader Monirul Haque Chowdhury has pledged to support the affected families. “We have compiled a list of 23 identified victims and are preparing legal documents to file a case against the authorities concerned,” he said. IFC blames flood disaster on unplanned development Bangladesh and India’s Meghalaya, Assam     Shockingly, despite the high number of casualties, none of the victims’ families have received compensation to date. Authorities Respond, But Uncertainty Remains Cumilla Sadar South Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rubaiya Khanam acknowledged the issue and assured administrative action. “If a faulty design is causing repeated accidents and fatalities, the Roads and Highways Department must take responsibility,” she said. “We will formally notify them. Recently, a victim’s family from an accident in Lalbagh Highway received compensation, and we want similar measures for victims here.” Meanwhile, RHD Cumilla Executive Engineer Suniti Chakma stated that 40% of the U-loop construction work has been completed and that the highway will soon be expanded to 10 lanes. “Once the work is finished, we believe this issue will be resolved,” Chakma added. Unplanned developments a challenge for power sector: Nasrul Hamid     With no immediate relief in sight, locals fear that more lives will be lost before the long-awaited solution is implemented.

Established to provide emergency treatment for road accident victims along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, the Feni Trauma Centre remains largely non-functional, even 20 years after its completion. The three-storey facility, built at Mohipal near the highway, was inaugurated on July 39, 2006 at a cost of Tk 2.76 crore. Outpatient services began in October that year, with administrative approval following in February 2007. However, the centre operates on a minimal scale, offering only outpatient services due to acute shortages in manpower, medical equipment and essential utilities. District health officials report that the 20-bed facility requires a minimum of 20 staff, including doctors, to operate effectively. At present, only 10 personnel are on duty, including a residential medical officer, a pharmacist, seven nurses, and a medical technologist. Key positions, such as junior consultants for orthopaedics and anaesthesia, as well as radiology technologists and support staff, remain vacant. During a visit to the facility, it was observed that many of its state-of-the-art resources remain unused. Read: Daulatpur health centre beset with manifold problems The ICU, modern operating theatre, and advanced pathological equipment lie idle. X-ray machines, ECG devices, and autoclaves are either unused or non-functional due to a lack of maintenance. “Critical patients, particularly road accident victims, are often referred to Feni General Hospital or Chattogram Medical College Hospital. This delays urgent treatment and increases the risk of fatalities,” said Saiful Alam, the trauma centre’s residential medical officer. The urgency of a fully operational trauma centre is underscored by the alarming number of accidents along the highway. Harunur Rashid, officer-in-charge of Mohipal Highway Police Station, reported 21 accidents in Feni section in the past year, causing in 20 deaths and over 100 injuries. He said that operationalising the trauma centre could significantly reduce casualties. Civil Surgeon Dr Shihab Uddin said he had raised the manpower and infrastructural issues with higher authorities. In a letter dated January 9, he urged the Health Services Division Secretary to address the concerns and approve additional staff to enable the centre’s full functionality. Local residents have also expressed frustration over the prolonged inefficiency of the facility. “Thousands of vehicles use this highway daily, and accidents are frequent. Yet, the trauma centre fails to provide timely treatment due to the lack of doctors and facilities,” said Nurul Afsar, a resident of Mohipal. Read more: Medical services at Jashore’s Chaugachha Upazila Health Complex suffer from acute physician shortage Another resident, Nazrul Islam, lamented the lost potential of the centre, saying, “Despite its capability to save lives, the Feni Trauma Centre’s inability to function as intended highlights the critical need for administrative intervention.” The continued inoperability of the trauma centre reflects a broader challenge in resource allocation, staffing, and infrastructure maintenance within the health sector. For the Feni Trauma Centre to achieve its intended purpose, immediate action is needed to address these long-standing issues.

Two friends were killed after being crushed by a bus on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Cumilla’s Daudkandi upazila on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Arif Uddin, 18, a first-year student at Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain College in Daudkandi, and his friend Saikat Sarkar, 18, a Bangladeshi expatriate from Italy. 9-year-old drowns in Magura pond Arif was the son of Md. Salah Uddin, a former councillor of Ward No. 6 in Daudkandi municipality. The accident occurred on the Gumti-Meghna Bridge in Daudkandi on Wednesday afternoon. According to police, the two friends were riding a motorcycle when they were struck by a Dhaka-bound bus on the Gumti-Meghna Bridge. Both were crushed by the vehicle and died on the spot. Two college students die in Sylhet road accident Abu Obaid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Daudkandi Highway Police, said the bodies were recovered and taken to the police station. The bodies were later handed over to the relatives of the deceased after the completion of due procedures, he added.  

Thousands of travellers on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway were left stranded for hours on Wednesday due to a massive traffic jam, stretching over 40 kilometres. The chaos was triggered by a workers' blockade in Gajaria, creating widespread disruptions on one of the country's most vital roadways. The roadblock, enforced by factory workers at around 8:00 am, brought traffic to a standstill, with many passengers and transport workers trapped in the tailback for hours. The gridlock, which extended from Gazaria to Daudkandi, affected both directions of the highway, severely delaying travellers between Bangladesh’s two largest cities. One frustrated passenger, Hasan Shahriar Chowdhury, who was travelling from Mirsarai, Chattogram, shared his ordeal with UNB. "I started my journey at 6:30 in the morning and got stuck after crossing Daudkandi Bridge due to the huge traffic jam. I don’t know what exactly caused it, but this is horrible," Shahriar said. His travel plans were derailed, and an important business meeting in Dhaka had to be missed. He lamented, "Planning a trip to Dhaka has become increasingly difficult. Today, I wasted four long hours due to this notorious traffic jam. And it’s not just me – thousands of passengers in hundreds of buses were stuck on both ends of the highway." Shahriar noted the absence of highway police during the crisis, raising concerns about road management and safety. "There was no police presence to manage the situation or assist the stranded passengers," he added. The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, which connects two major cities in Bangladesh, is known for its frequent traffic disruptions. Read: 10-Km tailback created on Dhaka-Ctg highway, commuters suffer   Even minor accidents or blockades often cause significant delays, especially during peak travel hours. Passengers and transport workers have long called for improved highway management to address such situations promptly. Factory Workers Protest The blockade, which sparked the massive traffic disruption, was reportedly staged by around 200-250 employees of a medical device manufacturing factory, JMI Group, in Anarpura, Gazaria. According to Bhoberchar Highway Police sub-inspector (SI) Riyadul Islam, the workers took to the highway in protest after the death of a colleague on October 10. The deceased worker, an employee of the JMI factory, reportedly died from a stroke. The protesting workers demanded compensation for the deceased's family, among other requests. The protest, which lasted over three hours, caused the traffic jam to worsen, with a tailback of nearly 20 kilometres forming on both sides of the highway. The blockade was lifted at around 11:15 am, after which traffic slowly began to return to normal, SI Riyadul confirmed. Despite the resumption of vehicular movement, passengers like Shahriar expressed frustration over the poor response time of law enforcement and the lack of communication from the authorities. The highway, which is essential for trade and travel between Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram, continues to face congestion issues that disrupt daily life for thousands. As of now, no official statement has been released by the authorities regarding the workers’ protest or the long traffic jam that ensued. Passengers and transport workers alike are urging swift action to ensure smoother management of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in the future, particularly in dealing with unforeseen incidents. When asked about the factory workers' demands, Md Abdur Razzaq, Managing Director of JMI Group, said that his factory is the only one in the country producing medical devices and is fully export-oriented. Read more: 8-km tailback created on Dhaka-Ctg highway He said that the employees of his industrial group enjoy more benefits than those mandated by existing labour laws. He alleged that certain vested groups are inciting the workers to protest with unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Deputy Inspector General (Admin) of the Highway Police Headquarters, commented on the significance of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, calling it a crucial national route with a high volume of traffic. "Even a minor disruption, whether caused by an accident or a protest blockade, can lead to severe traffic congestion," he said. About the Highway Police, he said they are responsible for law enforcement in public matters and for restoring order in the event of rule violations.

Two people were dead and four were injured in a collision involving three vehicles at Munshiganj’s Gazaria upazila on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. According to police, the accident occurred around 3:45 am today when a microbus carrying Momen Mia (35), who lived in Saudi Arabia, and his family were heading towards Titas upazila of Cumilla from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Read more: Saudi expatriate killed as train hits him in Dhaka's Malibagh When the microbus reached Gazaria’s Boktar Kandi area, a covered van hit the vehicle from the back, pushing the microbus to the other side of the divider and into the Dhaka-bound lane. A Dhaka-bound bus carrying 40 passengers from Sajek Valley hit the vehicle a second time. The bus collided with a nearby tree after failing to control its speed. All the passengers of the bus were unharmed. They were sent to their destination in another bus, our Munshiganj correspondent reports. The deceased were identified as Dulal Mia, 60, brother-in-law of Momen Mia, and Md. Hossain, 10, the nephew of the latter. Their bodies have been kept at Bhaberchar Health Complex in Gazaria. Read more: Bangladeshi killed in Greek train crash Meanwhile, Momen and his brother, Akhtar Hossain, are undergoing treatment and are in critical condition. Bhaberchar Highway Police Outpost Sub-inspector Riyad said the covered van and the bus were seized, but the drivers fled. Police have also seized the damaged microbus.    

Vehicular movement on Dhaka-Chattogram highway remained halted for two hours as local people blocked the road protesting the drive against illegal gas connection. Md Ibrahim, executive magistrate and assistant commissioner (land) of Sonargaon upazila, said a mobile court conducted a drive under Pirojpur union of Sonargaon area against the illegal gas connections. During the drive, they also snapped 3000 illegal gas connections. At one stage, the illegal gas users obstructed them and took to the Dhaka-Chattogram highway at 2 pm protesting the drive. They also staged a demonstration there, creating a 15-km long tailback from Shimrail to Meghnaghat point of the highway. On information, police rushed to the spot and tried to quell the matter. A chase and counter-chase took place during the incident. The protesters also set fire to tyres on the highway. Later, the vehicular movement became normal around 4 pm after police intervention. END/UNB/Corr/MAS/ssk

Vacationers heading home four days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha had to suffer through a 10-km long tailback on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway passing through Narayanganj on Wednesday.Massive gridlock was witnessed on the highway at Shimrail, Kanchpur, Madanpur and Meghna area from this afternoon.Hundreds of vehicles got stuck which caused extreme miseries to the drivers and passengers amid scorching heat.A home-bound passenger Faria Rahman said vehicles were moving slowly after crossing the Signboard area. It is taking a long time for the passengers to reach the destination.Meanwhile, some passengers alleged transport owners are charging extra fare.Nabir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) Kanchpur Highway police station, said, “The gridlock was caused by heavy pressure of cattle-laden vehicles as well as home-bound people ahead of Eid.”The highway police has taken various steps to control traffic, including deploying additional police at every turn of the highway, patrolling and not allowing local vehicles on the highway, said the OC.“Due to the extra pressure of the vehicles, people have to wait for a while at a few turning points of the highway causing a tailback. Hopefully it will be normal soon,” he added.Highway police have also evicted illegal establishments and shops on or near the highway to avoid traffic gridlock.

A two- day  Ashtami Snan(bathing festival), a  Hindu religious ritual,  has triggered a 17 kilometers long tailback  on Dhaka Chattogram highway on Saturday. The number of Hindu devotees crossed 10 lakh this year as they gathered on the bank of Brahmaputra River at Langalbandh in Bandar upazila of Narayanganj after the bathing festival remained suspended for two years due to the Covid pandemic, said the local administration. Meanwhile, Jayedul Alam, Superintendent of Narayanganj police said, “ Some 9 lakh devotees who have arrived here from different  corners of the country have parked vehicles carrying them haphazardly and went to take a bath which has created gridlock on the highway.” Also read: 20km long tailback on Dhaka-Ctg highway following road crashes However, police are trying to ease the traffic movement by sending the vehicles to the designated  parking areas, he said.

A fire broke out on a moving bus on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Sitakunda upazila on Tuesday. The fire started in the bus named ‘New Edition’ around 12 pm. Fortunately all the passengers of the bus managed to get down from it immediately. At first locals tried to douse the flames as transport movement was stopped on the highway following the fire incident. Also read: 60-yr-old Bangladeshi woman dies in Kolkata guest house fire Later two fire tending vehicles of Kumira and Sitakunda managed to douse the flames after half an hour. Md Nurul Alam Dulal, Senior Officer of Sitakunda fire service, said according to the bus driver and his assistant the fire broke out due to overheating of the engine. Most parts of the bus were burnt but no casualties were reported, he said. Also read: Fire at port city's Zahur Hawkers Market under control; 30-40 shops gutted