Locals protest by planting paddy seedlings in potholes on Faridpur-Bhanga highway
Unless land acquisition is completed by June 2026, nearly Tk500 crore earmarked for the four-lane expansion will be returned to the state treasury, warned RHD executive engineer
Locals and passengers planted paddy seedlings in rain-filled potholes on the Faridpur-Bhanga highway today (11 July) in a symbolic protest over the road's worsening condition.
Incessant rain has worsened the already dilapidated 32-kilometre stretch from Faridpur town to Bhanga, part of the Dhaka-Barishal route, disrupting traffic and causing significant delays.
Despite increased traffic pressure after the opening of the Padma Bridge back in 2022, the long-proposed four-lane upgrade remains stalled.
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A recent site visit by this correspondent showed large potholes near Bakhunda, Mohila Road, and Talma areas, making the highway dangerous.
Transport workers say travel from Bhanga to Faridpur now takes as long as the entire 80km trip from Dhaka to Bhanga.
Ambulance driver Md Jahangir said it now takes over 90 minutes to travel from Nagarkanda upazila to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, jeopardising emergency patient care.
"Earlier, this trip used to take just 30 minutes," he said.
Executive Engineer Khalid Saifullah Sardar of the Roads and Highways Department said Tk49 crore has been allocated for immediate repairs, with two tenders issued.
"However, persistent rain has delayed work. Contractors have been given nine months to complete repairs, including widening the roadside for smaller vehicles," he added.
According to Sardar, the land acquisition wing of the local Deputy Commissioner's Office is currently handling the land procurement for the four-lane project, but slow acquisitions have hampered progress.
He warned that unless land acquisition is completed by June 2026, nearly Tk500 crore earmarked for the four-lane expansion will be returned to the state treasury. Sardar said it will be very difficult to get back the funds if it returns.
However, Additional Divisional Commissioner Md Sohrab Hossain claimed land acquisition was proceeding normally but admitted further acceleration was needed.
In many cases, transport operators are rerouting vehicles through Boalmari upazila to avoid the highway altogether, driving up passenger costs and trip durations.
