Chattogram-Coxs Bazar Highway Gridlocked by Six-Lane Demand Protests
CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh — Hundreds of residents in Lohagara, Chittagong, blocked the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway on Tuesday, demanding the two-lane road be upgraded to six lanes. The demonstration, which began around 11:45 AM in the Amirabad Station area, caused significant traffic disruptions and prompted police intervention.
Protesters gathered on the highway, chanting slogans for the six-lane expansion. By 12:30 PM, the blockade had created an approximately four-kilometer traffic jam, stretching two kilometers on both sides of the road. Police officers were seen attempting to remove the demonstrators to restore traffic flow.
Aminul Ehsan, a local resident and one of the protesters, highlighted the frequent accidents and persistent congestion on the current narrow highway. "We have heard many promises of hope," Ehsan told reporters, demanding a clear government announcement within the next month regarding the upgrade to a six-lane highway.
Local Member of Parliament Shahjahan Chowdhury arrived at the scene around 12:45 PM and addressed the demonstrators, assuring them about the highway's expansion. Lohagara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiful Islam and the local police chief, Abdul Jalil, were also present.
Police Officer-in-Charge Abdul Jalil confirmed that "students and general public" had blocked the highway over the six-lane demand. He stated that law enforcement was engaging with the protesters to normalize vehicle movement.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
