Kishoreganj road repairs accelerated ahead of Prime Minister visit spark public skepticism
Photo Collected
KATIADI, KISHOREGANJ — Authorities have launched an urgent, expedited repair operation on the Itakhola-Mathkhola-Katiadi regional highway ahead of Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s scheduled visit to Kishoreganj this Sunday. The frantic pace of work, which includes filling long-standing potholes with brick chips and sand, has drawn skepticism from local residents and commuters who fear the measures are merely cosmetic and temporary.
Contractor representative Ratan Mia, overseeing operations near the Bhogpara intersection, acknowledged the hurried nature of the repairs when questioned about the long-term durability of the patchwork. “Let the Prime Minister pass first, then we will see about the quality,” he stated.
According to local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) sources, the Prime Minister is slated to participate in programs across Kishoreganj Sadar, Katiadi, and Pakundia upazilas. Member of Parliament for the Kishoreganj-2 constituency, Jalal Uddin, confirmed that preparations are in full swing and that road improvement efforts have been accelerated specifically for the visit.
The 12-kilometer stretch between Katiadi and the Bottola market in Pakundia has suffered from severe deterioration for years. Current efforts, spanning day and night, involve filling craters with brick, sand, and light bitumen. However, drivers and locals remain unconvinced. Abul Qaiyum, a bus driver with Jalsiri Paribahan who has traveled the route for two decades, noted the unusual intensity of the work. “There was no news of repairs for so long, but now there is no sleep. We did not understand the rush at first, but then we realized it was because the Prime Minister is coming,” Qaiyum said.
Near the Bhogpara area, workers were also seen preparing a helipad to ensure both road and air routes are ready for the Prime Minister’s arrival. Road and Highways Department (RHD) sub-assistant engineer Faridul Islam confirmed the work is being carried out on an emergency basis to accommodate the upcoming visit.
The 45.11-kilometer Itakhola-Mathkhola-Katiadi highway, which connects parts of Narsingdi and Kishoreganj to the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, is a vital transit corridor. The 12-kilometer section under immediate repair was awarded to the firm Messers Das Traders on April 2 for approximately 169.1 million taka.
Arbind Kumar Das, a project manager for the contracting firm, insisted that the work is not merely superficial and includes carpeting, though he noted that the pace was increased specifically due to the Prime Minister’s itinerary. Despite these assurances, local observers remain critical. Rustam Mia, a resident near Madhyamandar-kandi, dismissed the durability of the repairs, suggesting that the hurried application of materials will likely fail shortly after the Prime Minister’s departure.
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