Pothole-riddled Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway disrupts border trade, endangers lives

The 105-kilometre Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway, a key transport route in northern Bangladesh, has fallen into severe disrepair, with large potholes at dozens of points posing serious risks to commuters and disrupting trade through Burimari land port.

The worst-hit sections are in Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Patgram and the areas adjacent to Burimari land port, where damaged pavement, broken carpeting and rainwater-filled potholes have made travel hazardous.

Local residents and transport workers said the road has deteriorated due to the lack of long-term maintenance, heavy traffic, continuous rainfall and overloaded stone-laden trucks. They claimed that around 50 spots on the highway are badly damaged, forcing vehicles to slow down or move into the opposite lane, increasing the risk of head-on collisions and causing frequent traffic congestion.

The highway serves hundreds of goods-laden trucks, long-distance buses, ambulances, motorcycles and other vehicles every day. It is also the main road connecting Burimari land port, an important gateway for trade with India and Bhutan.

Import-export businessman Ashikur Rahman Parag said the poor condition of the road has increased transportation costs, vehicle maintenance expenses and delivery times, negatively affecting cross-border trade.

Truck drivers Bahar Uddin, Kamal Miah and Shah Alam said they are often forced to drive at very low speeds or switch lanes to avoid large potholes, making it difficult to maintain schedules and increasing accident risks, particularly at night and during rainfall.

Motorcyclists Hasan Ali and Mukhlesur Rahman said the highway has become especially dangerous for motorcycles and auto-rickshaws, with accidents occurring almost every day. They alleged that temporary repairs using brick chips or low-quality bitumen fail within a short period.

Burimari truck owner Kamal Uddin said the highway is vital for transporting agricultural products, stone and consumer goods across the northern region. He said the deteriorating road has significantly increased transport and vehicle maintenance costs, particularly during the monsoon season.

Officials of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Lalmonirhat said the highway is repaired regularly, but the repairs do not last because of the heavy movement of overloaded stone-laden trucks.

Executive Engineer Debashish Saha said around 500 trucks carrying 40 to 50 tonnes of stone each use the highway daily, with dump trucks causing the most damage. "There is no effective way to control overloaded vehicles. Until the road is strengthened, the highway will continue to deteriorate," he said.