Choking the highways

Unauthorised vehicle stands, local markets and restaurants set up on highways have led to severe traffic congestion in Barishal division. Moreover, wires, spools, bricks and debris are often left on the highways, escalating the risks of accidents.

Also, many influential people leave their construction materials beside and on the highways and often, workers continue the works blocking a portion of the roads, alleged locals. Many a times, vehicles load and unload the materials on the roads.

There are some 21 roadside markets and seven vehicle stands within the 40km highway from Barishal to Pirojpur, which witnesses a large volume of traffic daily. Many of these establishments have encroached upon the Barishal-Khulna highway as well.

 “Remaining stuck on the highway [Barishal-Khulna] for around 30 minutes due to the markets and vehicle stands has become a norm,” said Jamal Hossain, a bus driver.

Besides, heavy spools of wires are often left on various spots on Barishal-Khulna highway in Jhalakathi. These spools, being used as part of the ongoing development works, have occupied a major portion of the road at Pratap in Jhalakathi's Nalchity area.

Jamal said he witnessed at least 15 road accidents in the last six months. “I once hit a battery-run auto-rickshaw while crossing it in Nalchity as the other side of the road was blocked,” he added.

Contacted, Ashraful Alam, additional chief engineer of Roads and Highways Department, Barishal, said workers of Palli Bidyut Samity dumped those. “We asked them several times to remove the spools from the highway, but to no avail,” he added.

Emdadul Haque, general manager of Palli Bidyut, Jhalakathi, said, “We have two depots in Nalchity for storing those but workers tend to keep them on the highways for transporting them easily. They don't follow our instructions as they are contractual workers.”

Construction materials like bricks, sand and rods are also left at various spots on Barishal-Khulna and Barishal-Dhaka highways, hampering smooth vehicular movement.

Vehicles, especially two-wheelers, frequently skid off the road due to the sand. The risk escalates during rain as the roads become slippery, said Md Shifun Newaz, assistant professor of the Accident Research Institute of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology.

Jahangir Hossain, a regular commuter, said, “I was injured when my motorbike skidded off the road after hitting brickbats near Rajapur in Jhalakathi.”

Among the busy spots, Gournadi bus stand, Guriarpar, Choumatha Bazar, and Kasipur Bazar areas on Barishal-Khulna highway and Bagri Bazar, Mollarhat Bazar, Naikathi Bazar, Chourasta Bazar of Kowkhali, Sattrakanda Bazar, Satpakia Bazar and Ruapatoli Bazar areas on Barishal-Dhaka highway are most accident-prone due to the indifference of the authorities concerned, alleged locals.

Sheikh Munirul Giash, former officer-in-charge of Rajapur Police Station, who is now posted at Police Staff College, Khulna, said, “Recently, I evicted all illegal shops from roads at Bagri Bazar in Rajapur.”

 “But the shop owners and vendors demonstrated against me, spreading rumours that I demanded tolls from them. On the other hand, people complained that they were not getting daily essentials due to the eviction,” he added. Eventually, the shops were back on the road.

 “It's RHD's duty to keep the roads free from hawkers and markets. Police can assist them in the drive,” he added.

Shafiqul Islam, deputy inspector general of Police, Barishal Range, said, “We are ready to provide support to RHD in removing illegal structures from the roads.”

When asked, the additional chief engineer of RHD said, “We cannot conduct regular drives due to manpower shortage. However, public awareness is also needed in this regard.”