Iqbal Hossain Jibon, Mirsarai
The Mirsarai section of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway has no passenger stands and stoppages in the highway. Passengers have to wait adjacent to roads no matter how bad the weather condition is. This causes extreme misery to the passengers traveling on the highway.
It is learned that Bariarhat Municipality, Mastannagar Bishbrod, Thakurdighi, Mithachara Bazar, Mirsarai Sadar, Baratakia, Nizampur and Baradarogarhat Bazar are located in Mirsarai Upazila adjacent to Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. There are bus stops in these 6 important big markets. But there is no passenger sto in these markets. Although the Dhaka-Chittagong highway was permanently cordoned off during the two lanes, after upgrading to four lanes, no passenger stand was set up. Although two passenger tents have been set up at Mirsarai Municipal Bazar, Baratakia Bazar with iron angles, they are currently being used as micro stands and rickshaw stands. It is of no use to the passengers due to lack of supervision by the authorities. Although there was a passenger camp at Mithachara Bazaar on the Dhaka-Chittagong old highway, it was occupied by a liquor shop. Besides, there is no passenger camp at Kerhat, Koyla and Henyako markets on Mirsarai section of Bariarhat-Khagrachhari road. Meanwhile, thousands of students studying in various educational institutions adjacent to the Dhaka-Chattogram highway have to stand on the highway for cars. In many cases, if the number of seats in the car is limited compared to the number of passengers, it is difficult to read. Not only students but thousands of commuters on the highways every day are waiting for various vehicles soaked in the sun and rain.
Kamal Uddin, a trader in Mirsarai Bazar, said: There is no passenger stand on the highway with modern facilities. Many times the car is not available even after standing for a long time. The businessman demanded setting up of toilets along with passenger tents on the highway.
Bank official Nur Hossain used to travel regularly from Bariarhat to Chattogram city. He said he had to come to Bariarhat Bazaar in the morning and stand and wait for the bus. If there was a passenger stand, passengers could sit and wait. The suffering would have been a little less.
Bariarhat College Principal Alamgir said that it is necessary to set up passenger stands with modern facilities at important stops of the highway considering the needs of students and general public. This will allow passengers to travel to their destination with ease.
Mirsarai Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Minhazur Rahman said, "I will contact the concerned authorities to construct passenger canopies on important straps of the highway."
Mirsarai Upazila Parishad Chairman. Jasim Uddin said, "I will talk to the senior officials of the Roads and Highways Department and suggest construction of passenger canopies in all the important places."
