Dhaka-Chattogram Highway: Illegal crossings fuel deadly accidents

When the Dhaka-Chattogram highway was expanded to four lanes, a broad central reservation was deliberately designed to prevent head-on collisions—one of the leading causes of fatalities. However, following the August 5 unrest, when law and order deteriorated, locals began illegally cutting through the median at multiple points. Their motive? To avoid long detours required for U-turns and cross the highway more easily.

Despite widespread breaches, officials remain largely uninformed or unresponsive. 

Golam Mostafa, executive engineer of the Roads and Highways Department in Cumilla, claimed he was not aware of unauthorised crossings. He stated, "Legal U-turns follow a specific pattern and discipline. Any illegal crossings will be shut down once identified." However, he was unable to provide data on the number of legal U-turns in the area.

Sections of central reservation have been cut to create pathways for shortcut crossing on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Three-wheelers and other vehicles use these cut-throughs in an extremely risky manner, posing a threat to the safety of the highway. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Attempts to obtain a response from Khairul Alam, Superintendent of Police for the Highway Region in Cumilla, proved unsuccessful. When contacted over the phone, he initially said he did not understand the question. Upon repeating the query, he remained silent. Subsequent calls also went unanswered.

Investigations by The Business Standard revealed a significant number of illegal passing points along the Cumilla section of the highway. In just the 15-kilometre stretch from Nandapur to Suagazi, at least 12 unauthorised crossings were identified, with countless more between Daudkandi and Chouddagram.

Sections of central reservation have been cut to create pathways for shortcut crossing on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Many vehicles use these cut-throughs in an extremely risky manner, posing a threat to the safety of the highway. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Local residents confirmed the dangers posed by these makeshift crossings. Abdul Jalil, from Suagazi under Sadar Dakshin upazila, stated, "People cut sections of the central reservation to create informal links between carriageways. There are two illegal crossings near our market alone, and I've witnessed at least 50 accidents there." He emphasised that a legal U-turn exists just a kilometre away, which could have prevented many of these incidents.

Echoing this concern, Alam Mia, another local, noted that officials have inspected the illegal crossings multiple times but taken no action. MA Hanif, a resident of Jinglatoli in Daudkandi, recounted a tragic accident where three people were killed on the spot when an auto-rickshaw used an illegal crossing and suddenly entered the path of an oncoming bus. "Such accidents happen here all the time," he added.

Locations with high numbers of illegal crossings

Unauthorised highway breaches are most common in areas with roadside markets, filling stations, and roads connecting both sides of the highway. Notable hotspots include:

• Daudkandi: Shahidnagar, Amirabad, Gauripur, Eliotganj
• Chandina: Madhaiya, Chandina Bus Stand
• Burichang: Nimsar, Kalakachua, Syedpur
• Sadar Dakshin: Beltali, Nalchar, Chauara Road, Chashipara CNG filling station, Lalbag, Suagazi
• Chouddagram: Mia Bazar

A battery-run auto-rickshaw uses a cut-through to cut short its way on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in the Cumilla’s Chandina area on Saturday. Sections of central reservation on the highway have been cut in various places to create pathways for shortcut crossing by three-wheelers and other vehicles, posing a threat to the safety. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

In some cases, entire sections of the central reservation have been removed, while others have been crudely paved over, creating additional potholes that further heighten the risk of accidents.

Local resident Dulal Uddin, from Syedpur in Burichang, revealed that some crossings were newly created, while others have existed for years. He pointed out that despite repeated highway repairs, these unauthorised openings remain untouched.

Sections of central reservation have been cut to create pathways for shortcut crossing on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Motorcycles and other vehicles use these cut-throughs in an extremely risky manner, posing a threat to the safety of the highway. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Who is behind these illegal crossings?

Locals suggest that transport operators and residents are responsible for creating these unlawful breaches. Matin Saikat, a national award-winning environmental and agricultural expert, identified several reasons behind their continued use.

"Footbridges aren't suitable for everyone, especially the elderly, women, and children who rely on auto-rickshaws to cross the highway. Additionally, people traveling between villages on opposite sides of the road often refuse to take the longer route to a U-turn. Many use these crossings to reach markets or evade highway police enforcement. Unfortunately, this negligence frequently results in deadly accidents."

Saikat further stressed that business owners and transport workers play a role in the unauthorised removal of central reservations, leading to traffic congestion and increasing crash risks.

Although three-wheelers are banned on highways, battery-powered auto-rickshaws and CNG-run vehicles are plying freely on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. These three-wheelers often travel against the flow of traffic, leading to frequent accidents on the highway. The photo was taken from Meghna in Narayanganj on Saturday. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Expert opinions

Transportation expert Md Shamsul Hoque, a professor at Buet, stated:

"For safer and more sustainable highway management, slow-moving vehicles must be restricted from using high-speed highways. Strict monitoring and enforcement are critical to reducing accidents and ensuring smooth traffic flow."

He urged the Roads and Highways Department to install concrete Jersey barriers to prevent illegal crossings, designed to discourage pedestrians from standing on dividers and enhance highway safety. Additionally, he stressed the need for stronger penalties for slow-moving vehicles violating regulations.

Former Conscious Citizens' Committee president Badrul Huda Zenu criticised government negligence, stating:

"This situation calls for urgent action and increased supervision. The Roads and Highways Department cannot escape responsibility, and highway police failing to address these crossings is an unacceptable failure of duty. If authorities don't step up soon, these illegal crossings will lead to even greater disasters."