A 7.5-kilometre section of the Madaripur-Shariatpur regional highway has developed large potholes and other damage within months of reconstruction work beginning under a Tk25.10 crore project.
Bitumen and stone have peeled away at several points, while concrete has broken and exposed reinforcing rods in some areas, forcing thousands of people to travel along the road at serious risk.
According to the Roads and Highways Department, the reconstruction of the road from the Madaripur Sadar Post Office intersection to Mostafapur was approved in the 2025-26 financial year at a cost of about Tk25.10 crore.
Orient Trading and Builders Limited was awarded the contract under the supervision of the Roads and Highways Department. The project, bearing tender ID 1176291, began in March this year and is scheduled to be completed in November.
However, serious defects appeared on different sections of the road within a few months of construction work beginning.
A visit to the area found at least 25 large potholes near the beginning and end of the concrete section at Iterpool Bazar.
Bitumen has also peeled away from the section adjacent to Sadar Thana Road, leaving the surface uneven and dangerous. Rainwater accumulated in the potholes has made the road even more hazardous, particularly when heavy vehicles pass through the area.
Local resident Rakib Hasan Prem alleged that poor-quality materials and inadequate supervision were responsible for the road deteriorating so quickly.
Mahmudul Hasan, a resident of Bagerpar, said local people had raised concerns over the quality of the work from the beginning, but the authorities did not take their objections seriously.
“Now people across the area are suffering because of that mismanagement,” he said.
Local businessman Mostafiz Tutul said the relevant authorities had been informed several times while construction was under way, but no effective action was taken.
“Questions are now being raised over the quality and durability of this government-funded road project,” he said.
Several residents, including Siplu Sharif and Swaran Fakir of Harikumaria, blamed negligence by the contractor and the supervising authorities for the alleged misuse of public money.
“A section develops potholes almost immediately after it is built. What is the point of wasting crores of taka in this way?” they said.
They demanded the formation of an independent investigation committee to examine the quality of the entire project and any alleged irregularities.
Repeated attempts were made to contact the owner of Orient Trading and Builders Limited by phone, but he did not respond.
A representative of the company, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that some Roads and Highways Department officials had taken money from the contractor in the name of road repair work. However, he could not produce any official evidence to support the claim.
Amid mounting criticism, the Roads and Highways Department began temporary repairs to the damaged sections on Thursday morning using bitumen, sand and bricks.
Local residents, however, said the repairs would not provide a permanent solution and alleged that they were intended merely to conceal the underlying irregularities.
Madaripur Roads Division Executive Engineer Kh M Nakibul Bari said the project period had not yet expired.
“Potholes have developed at some points because of rain. Temporary repair work is under way to reduce public suffering,” he said.
“I was not in charge at the beginning of the project, so I cannot comment on the quality of the original construction work.”
