Rugged roads cause 105 mishaps in 2 weeks

The awful condition of Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway and Mahendranagar-Borobari and Borobari-Kulaghat roads in the district caused around 105 accidents in the last two weeks.

Traffic sergeant Fariduddin of Lalmonirhat said 105 accidents occured due to the sorry condition of the roads.

Five loaded trucks and three passenger buses fell into roadside ditches at Polashi in Aditmari upazila, Kakina in Kaliganj upazila and Indrarpar in Sadar upazila on Wednesday, in which at least 55 people were seriously injured.

General Secretary of the district Bus, Truck and Tank-lorry Sramik Union Abul Kalam said movement of vehicles on the roads has become highly risky because many big potholes have developed on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway and the connecting roads.

General Secretary of the district Bus-Minibus Sramik Union Bulbul Ahmed said they gave a seven-day ultimatum on Monday to the authorities of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to repair the dilapidated roads. "If we don't get any result in seven days, we will call for tougher programmes," he added.

Truck driver Haider Ali, 48, said his bamboo-laden truck fell into a roadside ditch while he was trying to give side to a truck coming from the opposite side.

"The axle of my stone-laden truck broke down on the road due to the huge potholes," said truck driver Delowar Hossain, 52, from Bogra.

Executive Engineer of RHD in Lalmonirhat Sajedur Rahman said the tender for repairing the Mahendranagar-Borobari is being processed.

Executive Engineer of LGED in Lalmonirhat Al-Amin Khan said the 5.53 km long Mahendranagar-Mostafi road is under repair at a cost of Tk 4.35 crore and will be opened by the end of January, but only light vehicles will be allowed to move on it.

Deputy Commissioner Abul Fayez Md Alauddin Khan said he wrote several times to the ministry concerned for repair of the roads, but has not got any response. "Road communication in the district is a serious problem, and causes manifold difficulties in business, economics and jobs in the district," he added.