Looks can be deceiving

On every visit, Professor Islam, who teaches English at Dhaka University, tells us that he loves Chittagong because of its clean roads, and he thinks that no other city in the country has as many roads as Chittagong.

We, from Chittagong, would like to believe his words, but cannot as we find that the opposite is true. Actually road map of the city may easily deceive an outsider. Because, in certain areas like the GEC, too many roads have converged upon each other giving the impression that the whole city is like that, whereas in other parts, roads are as scarce as there are hairs on a bald head.

In fact, for every big city an airport road is a common aspect, but Chittagong does not have one. Even there is no road, called a port road, though Chittagong is the biggest port.

So, how do you go to the airport from GEC point or New Mtarket? No direct way is there. From GEC intersection it is somewhat easier, because the Bishwa Road goes straight north to Dewanhat, where after crossing the bridge, you either go further north toward Barek Building, or west toward Halishahar, and both directions divert you from the airport by five miles.

From New Market, the journey is more arduous. The Station Road is an undaunted strip of a road that releases itself in the quandary of Mugaltully from where you can reach both ends of the Dewanhat Bridge by two roads separated by the huge Polo Ground.

Barek Building is a famous landmark, because at this point the city diverges into two sections: The city area on the east and the port area on the west. From here an ancient road runs almost apologetically toward the airport, seven miles far. The use of the road is basically for cargo transportation to and from the several jetties of the port, and therefore not ideal for a journey to or from the airport.

From the Isha Khan Base the road obligingly plies by the bank of river up to the airport. It is here that the tourists coming to Chittagong for the first time are charmed at the beauty of the River Karnaphuli decked with ships - big and small, boats and sampans, and the hills on the other side. This magical beauty notwithstanding, the road cannot be termed as an ideal one to connect the airport with the city.

Now whether you go to the airport from Dewanhat or Barek Building you'll have to compete with thick traffic at all times. After the opening of the Shah Amanat International Airport, the movement of passengers and cargoes has increased noticeably, for which the present road is embarrassingly narrow.

A diversion road, straight and without diversion, may be contemplated. As I understand the geography of the city, the best pathway for the road should be paved avoiding rush areas like Dewanhat, Agrabad, Barek Building and the port zone.

The road which has branched off at Katgarh and has shot straight to the beach may have been an example of what kind of road should be ideal for a new airport road.