Road Repair Protest Paralyses Lakshmipur Highway

Residents of Lakshmipur’s Sadar upazila staged a prolonged protest on Thursday, accusing authorities and contractors of corruption and substandard workmanship in the recent reconstruction of the Bothtoli–Dattapara road. Carrying brooms as a symbolic gesture against what they described as “dirty” practices, demonstrators blocked the Dhaka–Lakshmipur regional highway for nearly three hours, bringing traffic to a complete standstill and causing widespread public suffering.

The protest began around 11:00 am, when local people gathered in the Bothtoli area and marched with brooms in hand, chanting slogans demanding accountability, transparency, and immediate repairs. The demonstration soon escalated into a full road blockade as protesters occupied the regional highway. As a result, all vehicular movement was halted, leaving schoolchildren stranded, delaying ambulances carrying patients, and severely disrupting the daily commute of office workers and traders. Long queues of buses, trucks, and private vehicles built up on both sides of the road, intensifying public frustration.

Local residents alleged that the Bothtoli–Dattapara road, which was renovated barely two months ago by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), began deteriorating almost immediately after completion. According to them, several sections of the road have subsided, while the asphalt surfacing has cracked and peeled away, rendering the route hazardous for pedestrians and motorists alike. Many fear that the damaged road could lead to serious accidents, particularly during the upcoming monsoon season.

As tensions mounted, LGED Executive Engineer Ujjal Chowdhury arrived at the scene at approximately 1:30 pm. He held discussions with the protesters and assured them that the quality of the work would be formally inspected and that necessary action would be taken if irregularities were confirmed. Following these assurances, the demonstrators agreed to withdraw the blockade, restoring traffic flow.

LGED office sources stated that the renovation of the Bothtoli–Dattapara road was completed in November last year. The project involved carpeting a stretch of nearly two kilometres at an estimated cost of Tk 18 million. The contract was awarded to a private firm, Mujibur Traders.

Key Facts of the Bothtoli–Dattapara Road Project

One of the protesters, Md Faisal Mia, alleged that public funds were being misappropriated in the name of development. “This is nothing but the looting of taxpayers’ money,” he said. “The contractor and certain officials are working hand in glove. We raised complaints repeatedly, but no one listened.”

Other demonstrators claimed that there was little to no supervision during construction. They said responsible engineers were rarely seen on site, allowing the contractor to carry out the work without adhering to proper standards.

Speaking later by phone, Executive Engineer Ujjal Chowdhury explained that he had joined the Lakshmipur office only a month ago and that the project had been completed before his tenure. He confirmed that payment to the contractor had been withheld due to complaints regarding poor quality and added that a formal letter had been sent to higher authorities requesting a physical inspection and further directives.