Damaged dividers increase accident risks

Illegal three-wheelers are operating unabatedly on the country's busiest Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Moreover, road dividers are being cut and damaged at night in the Daudkandi section of Cumilla to facilitate easier crossings, leading to both minor and major accidents on the four-lane highway and posing risk of accidents to the commuters.

In the past year, more than 50 lives have been lost on this highway, leaving many of the injured with lifelong disabilities.

According to the locals, small vehicles traveling on the highway often have to take a long detour to make a U-turn. To resolve this problem, drivers of three wheelers are resorting to cutting the dividers at night for convenience.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has repaired the dividers multiple times, but just a few days later, they are broken again. Originally designed for smaller vehicles to cross, the road has gradually expanded to accommodate autorickshaws, motorcycles, CNG-run rickshaws, small vehicles, and even pedestrians. When crossing the damaged dividers, large fast-moving cars often fail to notice them and end up causing accidents.

The RHD sources said most of the broken dividers are repaired by removing cast blocks and RCC walls. However, within a few days, an unknown group break the dividers at night. As a result, many accidents occur while crossing the road. Additionally, although illegal three-wheelers were banned during the previous government, they have been operating freely since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5. These unfit and uncontrolled vehicles are contributing to accidents due to reckless driving.

In the Gouripur section of the highway at Daudkandi upazila, the Dhaka-bound lane is divided by a barrier to allow fast cars and local vehicles to pass. The divider blocks have also been removed near Barpara and Hasanpur Government Degree Colleges, allowing small vehicles, including CNG-powered auto-rickshaws, to cross. In addition to vehicles, pedestrians are also crossing the the highway at great risk through these damaged dividers.

Alamgir Hossain, general secretary of the Daudkandi unit of the Nirapad Sarak Chai (NISCHA), said, "The busiest spot on the highway is the Gouripur bus stand. I think the divider was broken because vehicles stopped on the Dhaka-bound lane to let passengers on and off. This creates a significant risk of major accidents for pedestrians and passengers crossing."

He also urged the authorities concerned to promptly repair the damaged sections and permanently close them to prevent further accidents.

Md Abu Obaid, officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daudkandi Highway Police Station, said, "I recently joined here. After conducting an investigation, necessary measures will be taken in coordination with the roads and highways officials to prevent accidents."

Md Abu Saleh, deputy assistant engineer of Gouripur unit of the RHD, said, "Dividers and foot-over bridges have been constructed in the Daudkandi section of the highway to prevent accidents. However, the public is not using them and instead are crossing the road through the broken dividers. Despite the cut-off sections being closed multiple times, this misconduct continues to occur repeatedly."

He requested the local people, public representatives, highway police and journalists to raise awareness among everyone to protect state assets.