Photo : Messenger
In the hill districts of Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachari , the absence of bridges renders the roads built there largely ineffective for public welfare. Local representatives’ express concerns about constant public dissatisfaction due to unmet road needs, particularly the lack of bridges in crucial areas.
The responsibility for constructing rural roads, bridges, and culverts in these hill districts lies with the Local Government Engineering Directorate (LGED). Despite the government's initiative to transform villages into cities, the current focus on road construction without bridges falls short of addressing the comprehensive communication needs of these areas.
While LGED has implemented phased communication sector work in the three hill districts since 2016, the ongoing Program for Supporting Bridges (SubRG) covers 61 districts across the country, excluding the three hill districts. Public representatives emphasize the substantial demand for new road and bridge construction, maintenance, and expansion in these regions. Although LGED has collaborated with local representatives to develop schemes addressing these demands, there has been no progress in the last two years.
Exclusion from the ongoing projects denies the three hill districts integrated development, leading to public dissatisfaction and hindering overall progress. In response, representatives call on the government to prioritize infrastructure development, including bridges and rural roads, through LGED.
Executive Engineers at LGED acknowledge the lack of projects addressing the construction of roads without bridges. They confirm that a new project proposal is in the approval process, recognizing the urgency to bridge this infrastructure gap.
Government-funded projects, such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project 2nd Phase (CHTRDP-2) and Rural Infrastructure Development Project Phase 2 (RIDPCHT-II), have been completed, but Lama Upazila schemes await final approval. The Disaster Affected Rural Road Development Project (DDRIP-2) for the period 2019-2023 is also in its final stages, with no new projects currently slated for the three hill districts.
Local observations reveal ongoing road construction in Bandarban, like the Thanchi-Balipara road, but critical bridges are absent. Similar issues are reported on the Suwalok-Bangapara road, impacting traffic safety and hindering smooth movement on the Lama-Sualak road.
Concerns extend to the Rowanhchari-Liragown-Bagmara road, completed two years ago by LGED, where three bridgeless sections persist. Additionally, the Battoli-Galengya union road lacks proper carpeting, while the Naikhongchari-Alikadam-Dochhari road's remaining 11 km remains unsuitable for traffic.
Inaccessibility plagues Tindu, Remakri, and Kurukpata in Thanchi Upazila, where lack of roads requires reliance on the Sangu River waterway. The Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board has constructed limited roads, leaving some areas accessible only by foot.
Rangamati Hills District Council Chairman Aung Shwe Prue Chy appeals for government approval of LGED's infrastructural development and communication expansion projects in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. LGED's Rangamati Region Supervising Engineer Md. Sakhawat Hossain assures ongoing efforts to address incomplete works and proposes bridging internal roads in Bandarban for both tourism and local needs.
In conclusion, urgent attention is needed to include the three hill districts in the Program for Supporting Bridges project, ensuring comprehensive development and addressing the pressing infrastructure challenges faced by these regions.
Messenger/Shahin
