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.

Unauthorised level crossings have become a death trap in Feni district where nine people were killed in the past seven months, thanks to the dereliction of the authorities concerned. Every year, a number of people die in rail accidents in Bangladesh, despite trains being considered one of the safest modes of travel. In 2021, some 147 people lost their lives in 123 railway accidents, according to the official data of Road Safety Foundation released in January, 2022. Many people have died in train accidents in Bangladesh and a number of probe bodies were formed to look into the accident but the authorities concerned have only fallen on deaf ears. Read 28-yr-old killed by train in Ctg The recent Mirsarai train accident on Dhaka-Chattogram rail route is an example of the sheer negligence of the rail authorities. Twelve tourists including students were killed when a speeding express train rammed into the microbus carrying the tourists at a level crossing in Mirsarai upazila on July 29. The gateman was suspended after the accident, having been absent from his post at the time of the accident. But unmanned level crossings are not a rarity in Feni. Read Mirsharai tragedy: Untimely deaths of indomitable youths, their dreams Local sources said there are 12 unauthorised level crossings on the Dhaka-Chattogram route in Feni and the 23-km route stretching from Sashardi to Muhuriganj has 21 authorised level crossings. Sub Assistant Engineer of Railway East, Riton Chakma, said people are stretching roads over the rail crossing as per their wish and most of the unapproved level crossings are in Muhuriganj - where there are six unmanned level crossings.

Villagers are using a bridge in the Tanapocha area of Debagram Union in Goalundo, Rajbari at great risk to their own lives after the bridge collapsed at one end due to erosion. Several cracks have appeared in the bridge and the middle of the bridge is most vulnerable. Although heavy traffic movement has been suspended due to this problem, there is still a high risk of accidents for light vehicles. Sources said that the Tenapcha Asrayan UZ-RHD (Piar Ali Mor) Road in Debagram was under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) of Bangladesh. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief built a 12-meter vent box culvert on the canal in the fiscal year 2011-2012 at a cost of Tk. 15 lakhs. Recently, the part of the bridge slightly moved down that has created the death trap for commoners. Also read: Ageing bailey bridges turn death traps in hilly Khagrachari roads Goalundo Upazila Engineer sent a report to the Executive Engineer of LGED on November 16, 2021 where