Battered Highway in Hatikumrul: Road minister orders engineer's withdrawal

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday directed the authorities concerned to withdraw Executive Engineer Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal of Roads and Highways Department of Sirajganj for his alleged neglect in road management.

He also asked show-cause notices to be served on Rawshan Ali, additional chief engineer of RHD of Rajshahi zone, and Habibur Rahman, superintendent engineer of Pabna zone, on the same ground.

Obaidul Quader gave the directives while visiting Hatikumrul area on Dhaka-Rangpur highway yesterday, Abu Naser, senior information officer of the ministry, told The Daily Star over phone.

The directives were issued for their “neglect” in managing the roads on west side of Bangabandhu Bridge to Hatikumrul Point, he said.

The action came amid media reports on bad condition of the road that caused huge traffic jams and immense sufferings to passengers.

A 10km stretch of the road from Hatikumrul to Nolka point on the highway remained badly damaged for the last couple of months. Besides, reconstruction of a roundabout at Hatikumrul intersection is also causing traffic jams, reports our Pabna correspondent.

“It has been taking around two hours to cross 32km from the west side of Bangabandhu Bridge to Hatikumrul intersection for last couple of months. We are suffering regularly for the bad condition of the road,” said Mirza Azad, a resident of Pabna town who travels to Dhaka every week.

Faruk Hossain, a bus driver, said the road from Hatikumrul to Nolka point turned worse due to continuous rain for the last couple of months.

The RHD has been repairing the road for last one month, but their action was limited to dumping bricks into the potholes further hampering traffic movement, drivers and passengers alleged.

The minister earlier yesterday directed the RHD officials concerned to make all damaged roads useable and passable within seven to 10 days, reports our Tangail correspondent.

“Otherwise, punitive measures will be taken against the officials concerned,” he warned while talking to journalists at Rabna Bypass point.

The minister instructed the engineers and contractors to repair the roads at night when the volume of traffic is low.

He also said expansion of the Joydevpur-Elenga four-lane highway has already been completed at several areas. But trucks were seen occupying the extended part of the road.

“If such is the case, it will not yield any benefit even after construction a 16-lane highway,” he observed.