Run-down Lalmonirhat-Burimari road hurts import-export trade

A 10-km stretch of the Lalmonirhat-Burimari road from Borobari to Mahendranagar and from Namuri Bazar to Palashi Bazar has become a death trap for trucks and other vehicles because of its worsening condition over the past few months.Crater-like potholes are causing frequent vehicle breakdown, resulting in long traffic jams. This has become almost a daily routine, much to the annoyance of bus and truck drivers as well as ordinary commuters.The bad road conditions and the resultant traffic bottlenecks are hampering the export and import of goods to and from neighbouring countries. Traders and businessmen are demanding immediate reconstruction of the road.
The Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway was built during the Ershad regime, but it lacks the national highway quality.
Since the opening of the Burimari land port, hundreds of heavy vehicles like ten-wheelers and trucks have been daily playing on this road. A large number of these trucks carry stones, imported from India and Bhutan through this port, to various parts of Bangladesh. But traders say the road condition was badly affecting their business.
Ashikur Rahaman Parag, owner of a C & F agency, said the run-down road was proving to be an impediment to the import-export business and only a four-lane highway from Burimari to Borobari could provide a lifeline to the regional economy.In the last few days, several trucks, carrying export products, skidded off the road and fell into ditches alongside. Most of the goods were damaged, resulting in considerable losses, Shafiqul Islam, the driver of one such truck, told The Independent.
Hundreds of office-bound passengers, businessmen and employees of national and multinational companies expressed their concern over the situation.
The sales promotion officer of a drug company said there was no one to take care of Lalmonirhat, though a minister and three lawmakers had been elected from the district.
Night coaches and other vehicles are using local roads to enter the town and affecting those thoroughfares not suitable for the movement of heavy vehicles. When contacted, Sajedur Rahaman, executive engineer of the roads and highways department in Lalmonirhat, told this correspondent that they had written to the higher authorities regarding the situation.
Government officials and local elites discussed the issue and expressed their concern at meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office. They requested the authorities to take immediate steps to ensure smooth communication and trade.Several social organisations and civil society members formed a human chain, demanding immediate refurbishing of the road.
The district unit of Sammilita Sanskritik Jote formed a human chain on Sunday at Mission Square, seeking a four-lane highway from Borobari to Burimari, the introduction of an express train from Burimari to Dhaka, and the repair of district roads.Sammilita Sanskritik Jote president Mujibur Rahman, general secretary Zahirul Alam Titu, Sechhasebok League district unit president Saiful Islam, principal Amirul Hayat Mukul and Press Club president Mofakkharul Islam Majnu, among others, spoke at the programme.

 

Run-down Lalmonirhat-Burimari road hurts import-export trade

A 10-km stretch of the Lalmonirhat-Burimari road from Borobari to Mahendranagar and from Namuri Bazar to Palashi Bazar has become a death trap for trucks and other vehicles because of its worsening condition over the past few months.Crater-like potholes are causing frequent vehicle breakdown, resulting in long traffic jams. This has become almost a daily routine, much to the annoyance of bus and truck drivers as well as ordinary commuters.The bad road conditions and the resultant traffic bottlenecks are hampering the export and import of goods to and from neighbouring countries. Traders and businessmen are demanding immediate reconstruction of the road. The Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway was built during the Ershad regime, but it lacks the national highway quality. Since the opening of the Burimari land port, hundreds of heavy vehicles like ten-wheelers and trucks have been daily playing on this road. A large number of these trucks carry stones, imported from India and Bhutan through this port, to various parts of Bangladesh. But traders say the road condition was badly affecting their business. Ashikur Rahaman Parag, owner of a C F agency, said the run-down road was proving to be an impediment to the import-export business and only a four-lane highway from Burimari to Borobari could provide a lifeline to the regional economy.In the last few days, several trucks, carrying export products, skidded off the road and fell into ditches alongside. Most of the goods were damaged, resulting in considerable losses, Shafiqul Islam, the driver of one such truck, told The Independent. Hundreds of office-bound passengers, businessmen and employees of national and multinational companies expressed their concern over the situation. The sales promotion officer of a drug company said there was no one to take care of Lalmonirhat, though a minister and three lawmakers had been elected from the district. Night coaches and other vehicles are using local roads to enter the town and affecting those thoroughfares not suitable for the movement of heavy vehicles. When contacted, Sajedur Rahaman, executive engineer of the roads and highways department in Lalmonirhat, told this correspondent that they had written to the higher authorities regarding the situation. Government officials and local elites discussed the issue and expressed their concern at meeting at the deputy commissioners office. They requested the authorities to take immediate steps to ensure smooth communication and trade.Several social organisations and civil society members formed a human chain, demanding immediate refurbishing of the road. The district unit of Sammilita Sanskritik Jote formed a human chain on Sunday at Mission Square, seeking a four-lane highway from Borobari to Burimari, the introduction of an express train from Burimari to Dhaka, and the repair of district roads.Sammilita Sanskritik Jote president Mujibur Rahman, general secretary Zahirul Alam Titu, Sechhasebok League district unit president Saiful Islam, principal Amirul Hayat Mukul and Press Club president Mofakkharul Islam Majnu, among others, spoke at the programme.