River Erosion Devastates Roads in Bangladesh's Moulvibazar and Habiganj

Residents in Bangladesh's Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts are grappling with severe communication disruptions even as floodwaters begin to recede. Extensive damage to approximately 210 kilometers of roads, caused by erosion from the Manu, Dhalai, and Khowai rivers, has left many routes impassable.

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About Tk 28 crore will be required for repairs. It will also take another day or two to prepare a complete assessment of the damage.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) reports that around 95 kilometers of paved, regional, and rural roads have been affected in Moulvibazar's Kamalganj, Rajnagar, Kulaura, and Sadar upazilas. In Habiganj, preliminary estimates indicate damage to an additional 115 kilometers of roads. The erosion has created large potholes and washed away sections of roadways, while floodwaters submerged many rural and regional routes, rendering them unusable for vehicles. Several bridges and culverts have also sustained damage.

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Repairs may require around Tk 75 crore. However, the extent of the damage could increase once the floodwaters recede completely.

Ahmed Abdullah, executive engineer of LGED in Moulvibazar, stated that repairs would require an estimated Tk 28 crore and that a complete damage assessment would take another day or two. Meanwhile, Faridul Islam, his counterpart in Habiganj, indicated that repairs in his district might cost around Tk 75 crore, with the potential for this figure to increase once the floodwaters fully recede.

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The road needs to be repaired quickly. People are now avoiding it and travelling via longer alternative routes.

The damaged infrastructure is significantly impacting daily life. Residents report difficulties traveling to markets, hospitals, and schools. Transporting agricultural produce has also become a major challenge. Local drivers note that passengers are opting for longer alternative routes due to the poor road conditions, and express concern about the longevity of any potential repairs given the ongoing erosion and the time roads spent submerged.

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No one knows when this road will be repaired. Even if it is repaired, it may not last long. Since it remained under water for a long time, the sections that are still intact will also deteriorate if repairs are delayed.