Police officers endure harsh conditions on Chattogram's new elevated expressway

Police personnel stationed along Chattogram's new elevated expressway endure challenging conditions, working from temporary tarpaulin tents with minimal furniture. Despite the expressway being a significant infrastructure project, officers face intense heat, rain, and a lack of essential facilities like permanent checkpoints, washrooms, and safe drinking water.

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The road surface becomes extremely hot. There is no toilet facility here.

Officers are deployed in rotating eight-hour shifts at multiple points, including Nimtala-Bishwa Road, Fakirhat Point, and Tigerpass, to ensure safety following a series of accidents. However, their posts lack any permanent infrastructure. Sergeant Tanvir described the difficulty of accessing restrooms, requiring a kilometer-long walk, and working through storms while getting soaked.

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During storms and rain, we have to continue working while getting soaked.

The Chattogram Elevated Expressway, connecting Lalkhan Bazar and Patenga, has been plagued by delays and cost increases, with its revised cost reaching Tk 4,314.85 crore. While the project nears completion, with ten connecting ramps still closed, the basic needs of the police officers tasked with its security are unmet. Another officer noted the difficulty of night duty and the need to bring drinking water from distant locations, highlighting the stark contrast between the project's scale and the officers' working environment.

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There are no toilet facilities. Even drinking water has to be brought from a distant location.