Hazardous highway: What’s behind the frequent accidents in Lohagara?

Three deadly accidents in the space of 48 hours bring the safety of the highway under the scanner

In just 48 hours, three separate accidents on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway in Lohagara Upazila have resulted in the deaths of 15 people and left at least 30 others injured.

Local residents, drivers, police and fire service personnel blame the steep, narrow and winding roads in the Chunati Jangalia area -- particularly dangerous for drivers unfamiliar with the terrain. The rush during the Eid holidays exacerbates the risk as many drivers from outside the district struggle to navigate the bends, leading to frequent accidents.

As accidents continue to occur, locals have demanded renovations for wider roads.

Lohagara Upazila is 75km away from Chattogram, and a three-kilometre stretch of sloped road with several sharp turns runs through the Jangalia area. Locals say accidents are common in Lohagara throughout the year, especially during early mornings and evenings.

The most recent accident occurred on Wednesday morning, just a day after Eid, when a microbus carrying passengers towards Cox’s Bazar collided head-on with a Relax Paribahan bus heading towards Chattogram.

The accident, which took place at 7:15am, killed 10 microbus passengers.

Matin Mia, a passenger on the Relax Paribahan bus, told journalists that the bus driver lost control while taking a turn. When he tried to brake, the bus collided head-on with the microbus.

The deadly collision occurred just 30–35 yards from another accident site, where a bus and a minibus collided on Eid morning, killing five people.

The next day, two microbuses overturned and fell into a roadside ditch, leaving 12 people injured.

When asked about the reason for the frequency of accidents in the same area, Lohagara Police Station chief Arifur Rahman said: “First of all, reckless driving is a major issue here. Secondly, there is salt water on the road, which makes it slippery. Braking often leads straight to an accident.”

He added that the road’s layout needs attention, especially the sharp bends.

Local journalist Kaiser Hamid pointed out that hilly roads and sharp curves pose risks for tourists and out-of-district drivers, who are unfamiliar with these conditions.

"During Eid, many drivers from other districts drive on these roads. They are unfamiliar with these roads. Some drivers often drive too fast. Tourists should consider travelling in long-haul buses to Chattogram or Cox’s Bazar instead of bringing microbuses or smaller vehicles to the highway."

Abdul Aziz, a driver for Marsa Transport, was stuck in traffic after the accident on Wednesday morning.

He demanded the removal of dangerous bends, saying that bus drivers often crash while trying to go past smaller vehicles.

Lohagara Fire Service Leader Rakhal Chandra Rudra, who was part of the rescue team, said that the curved roads need speed breakers to prevent such accidents.

With Cox’s Bazar being a prime tourist destination, Md Musa, president of the Arakan Road Transport Workers' Union, pointed out that the influx of vehicles during Eid heightens the risk.

"Despite heavy traffic, the roads have not been widened. The road is called a highway, but it's still just two lanes,” he said.

“The government and local administration need to take measures immediately to widen the road,” he added.

He also flagged the Jangalia, Kachhapia (Chakaria), and Baniyachhara Dhala sections of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway as extremely dangerous.

"The Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway has too many dangerous bends. It should be expanded into a four-lane road," he added.

Former Lohagara Upazila chairman Farid Uddin Khan visited the accident site. He said, "I have lived here since childhood. The root cause of these accidents is that the road is too narrow. Thousands of cars pass through daily, making it highly dangerous. Unless the highway is expanded to six lanes with a divider, accidents will continue."

He warned that if the government does not approve a six-lane expansion plan in the next Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting, locals will resort to protests, human chains, and even hartals.

When asked about the matter, Lohagara Upazila executive officer, or UNO, Inamul Hasan confirmed that interim government Advisor Faruk-e-Azam will visit the accident site.

“We are checking if a few kilometres of the road’s bends can be straightened. Maybe the advisor can provide guidance on the matter after visiting the site," he said.