I had the misfortune of travelling by road from Dhaka to Chittagong recently. It took us over ten hours. It was not because of heavy traffic but because of the slow pace and congestion resulting from the abysmal condition of the road. The stretch from Baroiahat to Chittagong, perhaps some 70 kilometres, is in particularly bad shape. It is virtually without any surface and has innumerable potholes. It is difficult to imagine how the authorities could allow the condition of the most important highway of the country to deteriorate to this level when the concerned ministry is waxing eloquent about subways, magnetic trains, bridges and elevated expressways.
Our governments have been promoting “kleptocracy.” One can, therefore, understand the motivation for mega projects. But when this is done to the exclusion of attention to routine functions, like keeping the national highways in good shape for example, the public suffer, and further damage is done to an already fragile economy.
May I suggest the Hon'ble Communications Minister take some time off from his preoccupation with mega projects, and take a road trip from Feni to Chittagong, preferably without prior notice, so that the RHD does not have the opportunity to make cosmetic improvements. This may give him an opportunity to come face to face with reality.