Many of the importers continue to import poor quality bitumen which apparently results in roads lasting less than their expected durability time.
Experts said that the Bitumen Penetration Grade 50/70 is a standard penetration grade Bitumen usually used as a Paving Grade Bitumen suitable for road construction and for the production of asphalt pavements with superior properties.
This grade of Bitumen is mainly used in the manufacture of hot mix asphalt for bases and wearing courses. Experts and sector insiders have blamed the use of imported low-quality bitumen for the lack of durability of the country’s road network.
Bitumen is considered the prime ingredient for road construction. The sustainability and durability of roads also depend on the use of quality bitumen. But most of the roads get damaged or dilapidated in Bangladesh just 6-12 months into their construction, causing sufferings to commuters and waste of public money.
It is alleged that a group of importers have been importing low-quality bitumen and supplying to the constructors for road construction work.
Bangladesh meets the annual requirement of bitumen through 80 per cent imports as only 20 per cent is produced in the country by the state-owned Eastern Refinery. But unlike other imported products, bitumen is entering the country without any certification and approval from Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
Experts said products like bitumen should be checked and validated while entering the country to ensure the quality and durability of roads.
It is indeed required to have quality test before customs clearance in a bid ensure best quality of Bitumen, they added.
Also, proper monitoring of the use of imported bitumen is largely ignored. In the case of road construction, galvanization of bitumen, the mixture of bitumen and stone and quality grade of bitumen are not being checked.
Engineer Md Aktarul Haque, former Managing Director of Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), stressed the need for preventing the import of low-quality bitumen by any means. Proper monitoring and ensuring the quality of the imported bitumen can save the country from indirect loss of public money in road maintenance and repair, he observed.
He also said contractors often purchase low-quality bitumen from importers at lower prices to maximize their profit. “That’s why monitoring and quality test should be ensured.”
Dr Mahmood Omar Imam, a professor at the Civil Engineering department of Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, said, “The durability of roads depends on the quality of bitumen, adding, “If quality bitumen is ensured during construction, roads do not get damaged in just under a year.”
“The government should realize that the use of quality bitumen can improve the durability of roads and save public money as well,” he added.
According to Road Maintenance Management System (RMMS) data, Bangladesh has around 22,419-kilometer roads across the country in different categories. There are around 3980km roads under the national highway, 4897km under the regional highway and 13,541km roads at district level.
Sources at Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said Bangladesh has a demand of around five lakh metric tonnes of bitumen annually. Of the total demand, ERL supplies 60,000- 70,000 metric tonnes and the rest is imported from Middle Eastern countries.
Taking advantage of proper monitoring and lack of quality test system, a group of importers are bringing low-quality bitumen and selling them to the contractors.
Experts said poor road condition is one of the major causes behind road accidents, which claim thousands of lives in the country every year.
According to Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association’s (BPWA) annual road accident monitoring report for 2020, as many as 6,686 people lost their lives and 8,600 were injured in a total of 4,891 road accidents in 2020 in Bangladesh.
It means on average, roughly 18 people were killed every day in road accidents across the country last year.
In the last two decades, no fewer than 56,987 people were killed in 58,208 road accidents across Bangladesh, according to the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
According to Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh uses two types of bitumen. 60/70 grade is better which ensure sustainable road development.
Another one is 80/100 grade bitumen which is more liquid than the 60/70 grade bitumen. During the rainy season, 80/100-grade bitumen does not sustain and roads get dilapidated sooner.
It was found that drums of bitumen are flooded the market made by mixing of half bitumen and half turpentine (turpin). An unholy syndicate controls the adulterate bitumen market.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has a directive on use of good quality, especially 60/70 grade bitumen for constructing roads across the country.
