Unrelenting rainfall turns Faridpur-Barishal Highway perilous

FE Team | Published: July 15, 2025 00:34:31

FARIDPUR, July 14 (UNB): For thousands of people who travel the Faridpur-Barishal Highway every day, the road has long been a lifeline, linking communities, supporting local trade and making travel easier across southern Bangladesh.
But over the past week, relentless monsoon rainfall has turned a critical 30-kilometre stretch from Faridpur town to the Bhanga intersection into a hazardous, crater-ridden obstacle course.
The scene is now one of disruption and distress. Bitumen and carpeting have given way in numerous areas and gaping potholes - some as deep as five inches - have transformed the highway into a patchwork of treacherous puddles and jagged edges.
For passengers, transport workers and traders, the once-routine journey has become an ordeal often ending in injury or delays.
"Accidents are becoming more frequent. It's difficult to keep balance, especially on a motorbike," said a local commuter, navigating cautiously through the rain-drenched road near Bakhunda.In a bid to salvage the situation, the Faridpur Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has initiated emergency repairs.
Using bricks and basic materials, teams are working on the worst-hit sections, including Pukhuria, Bhuban Dayar, Danggi Bridge and Talma Mor, to patch over the damage temporarily.
Executive Engineer Khalid Saifullah Sardar and his team have been at the forefront of these efforts. Despite continuous rain hampering progress, they remain visible on the ground, overseeing repair operations.
"This is only a temporary solution," Engineer Saifullah told the news agency, adding, "Proper repair work can't begin until the rain stops and land acquisition issues are resolved."
Behind the scenes, a more ambitious plan is waiting in the wings. In late May, the government awarded a formal tender to Arabail Company for a full-scale renovation of the damaged highway. An amount of Tk 490 million (49 crore) has already been allocated for immediate improvements.
Besides, a far-reaching plan to widen the highway into four lanes has been approved, with Tk 500 million (500 crore) previously sanctioned for land acquisition. But progress remains stalled.
"We can't begin full-scale work until the district administration hands over the acquired land. That's why there has been no major development in the Faridpur section for a long time," Saifullah said.