Pre-Eid Roadworks Spark Severe Traffic Gridlock in Bogura

In Bogura, hurried road repair works ahead of Eid have triggered severe traffic congestion on the city’s main thoroughfare connecting Satmatha to Banani, particularly around the Koloni Bazar area. The project involves removing the existing road surfacing on well-maintained stretches and replacing it with reinforced cement concrete (RCC), effectively reducing traffic to a single lane for nearly three weeks. As a result, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike have faced significant delays and inconvenience.

A field inspection on Sunday revealed that a few hundred metres of road, stretching from Thonthonia Bhai Paglar Mazar intersection to Koloni Bazar, have been excavated on one side for RCC paving. Vehicles are moving at a snail’s pace, and with Eid-related travel increasing traffic volume, lengthy queues are forming regularly.

The Road and Highway Department has reported that the renovation project covers an 8.67-kilometre section from Banani to Matidali, with a total budget allocation of approximately BDT 23.89 crore. Although the work order was issued in December, the contractor cited the parliamentary elections as a reason for the delay in commencement. Authorities have assured that the project will be completed within the scheduled timeframe. The work has been awarded to Bhawal Engineers and Construction Limited, a firm associated with BNP MP Fakhr Uddin Ahmed of Mymensingh-11 (Valuka) constituency.

Key Project Details

Local residents and business operators have questioned the necessity of the repairs. The road, spanning roughly 10 kilometres from Banani through Satmatha to Matidali, was generally in good condition with minimal potholes. Some observers note that seasonal waterlogging occurs in areas lacking proper drainage, but critics argue that constructing adequate side drains before resurfacing would have been a more cost-effective solution.

Auto-rickshaw driver Selim Hossain commented, “The road was in good condition. Now, travelling just 300 metres sometimes takes up to half an hour due to the congestion caused by these pre-Eid works.”

Traffic Inspector (Administration) Salekuzzaman Khan highlighted that, during Eid, vehicle density on Bogura’s main roads multiplies several times. Buses, trucks, private cars, thousands of auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and ambulances navigate the Satmatha-Sherpur route, yet the ongoing roadworks confine traffic largely to one lane, particularly at Koloni Bazar, causing persistent bottlenecks. Drivers attempting to bypass the jam via the opposite lane further exacerbate the problem.

Project supervisor Md. Sharifuzzaman explained that the work had to begin after the national elections in January and could not be postponed beyond Ramadan due to scheduling constraints. He confirmed that the project is expected to be completed by 28 August, with lanes progressively reopened to ensure smoother traffic flow.

Executive Engineer of Bogura’s Road and Highway Department, Abul Monsur Ahmed, maintained that the renovation was necessary, and upon completion, both lanes will be fully reopened to restore normal traffic conditions.