Road woes in Hatirjheel raise concerns of potential accidents

Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians are worried about the poor condition of Bir Uttam Mir Shawkat Ali Road, which runs along the Tejgaon-Gulshan link from BRAC Nursery to Police Plaza in Hatirjheel, Dhaka. They fear that the road’s state could lead to serious accidents.

An on-site inspection from the FDC intersection near Kunipara, through Hatirjheel Foot Overpass and Niketan Overpass to the Hatirjheel Musical Dancing Fountain, revealed that there are at least four spots on this road with various potholes and uneven surface.Interestingly, the RAJUK Hatirjheel Management Board office, responsible for the maintenance of these roads, is located on this very stretch. The road from this office connects to the FDC intersection via Konapara to the south, and to Police Plaza Jetty via the amphitheater to the east.

Even the roads leading from this well-maintained office are in a dilapidated state—like "darkness under the lamp." However, the responsible management officer, Engineer Aminul Islam, operates out of the RAJUK building.

Engineer Aminul Islam, speaking over the phone, said that he manages duties at both offices. When asked about the road’s condition, which is in such poor shape so close to the office, he noted that this year’s heavy rainfall has worsened the problem.

Islam told Views Bangladesh, "It's not just this stretch; some sections of the route from Hatirjheel Thana to Banglamotor, south of the lake, also need repairs. We’ve submitted a list and budget request to the authorities for necessary road repairs."

He added that the repairs would commence once the proposal gets approval.

Jahed Mia, a van driver who regularly travels along this route, told Views Bangladesh, "The pothole is in such a spot that you can't see it from a distance. Since it’s at a turn, we’re driving slowly to avoid accidents."

The same issue is found on the Niketan Bridge Overpass section. Akash Hossain, a biker from Rampura, noted, "I've heard that many people have had accidents here. The potholes are positioned so that bikers descending the overpass often fail to notice them on the left side."

He added, "Suddenly encountering these potholes throws us off balance, leading to accidents."

Hatirjheel Police confirmed that, as of Saturday, November 2, they had not received any reports of accidents.