Passenger buses are allegedly being allowed to drive against traffic on the four-lane highway between Panchlia and Hatikumrul in Sirajganj in exchange for monthly payments from roadside hotels and restaurants, raising serious concerns over road safety and the role of the Hatikumrul Highway Thana Police.
Local residents alleged that hotels and restaurants along the busy highway pay regular amounts to the police to allow buses to cross the designated lanes and enter their premises from the wrong direction. They also alleged that some police personnel are provided free meals at the establishments.
The alleged arrangement has created serious risks for commuters, particularly students, teachers and guardians of educational institutions located beside the highway, residents said.
The Sirajganj section of the western approach road to the Jamuna Bridge—an important gateway to northern Bangladesh—carries an estimated 22,000 to 25,000 vehicles a day serving around 22 districts in the northern and southern regions.
Several hotels and restaurants have developed on both sides of the highway at different points. According to local sources, more than a hundred buses operated by different transport companies allegedly cross the designated lanes and travel against traffic to stop at these establishments.
BUSES CROSSING INTO WRONG LANE
A recent visit to Panchlia found several Dhaka-bound buses entering the northbound lane after taking turns from the designated side of the highway.
The buses then reportedly stop at nearby hotels and restaurants before returning to the Dhaka-bound lane by again travelling against traffic.
The practice has become particularly hazardous at Panchlia, where the Panchlia Government Primary School and Panchlia Badral Alam High School are located beside the highway.
The two institutions have around 1,400 students, many of whom have to cross the highway every day.
With vehicles travelling in both directions on the same side of the highway, pedestrians often find it difficult to determine from which direction a vehicle may approach, residents said.
“I am afraid to cross the road because vehicles come from both sides,” a student of Panchlia Government Primary School said. “Many people have died here. It would be safer for us if the vehicles stopped driving against traffic.”
Another student, Md Arman, said students often needed teachers to help them cross the highway.
“We cannot cross the road without our teachers. Vehicles come from the wrong direction, so we never know when an accident might happen,” he said. “If vehicles followed the rules and traffic police were deployed at the crossing points, it would be much safer for us.”
‘NO ONE IS STOPPING THEM’
Local resident Azmat Ali said the problem had intensified since the Hatikumrul Highway Interchange became operational.
“Buses have been going to hotels against traffic ever since the interchange was opened. The Panchlia underpass has become extremely risky because restaurants are located on the opposite side,” he said.
He alleged that the Hatikumrul Highway Police collect substantial monthly payments from the hotels in exchange for allowing the practice.
The allegation could not be independently verified.
The head teacher of Panchlia Government Primary School said teachers regularly helped students cross the highway, but could not monitor every child travelling to and from school.
“We have two schools here with around 1,400 students who have to cross the highway. We help them cross, but they come and leave at different times. Many buses enter the hotels from the wrong direction. We have informed several people about the matter, but no effective solution has been found,” the head teacher said.
TRANSPORT OPERATORS POINT TO HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS
Local sources said buses operated by Desh, National, Hanif, Shyamoli, Asad, C Line and Sarkar Travels, among other companies, stop at the hotels and restaurants in the area.
Bus drivers approached for comment declined to speak about travelling against traffic.
However, a driver speaking on condition of anonymity said drivers had little control over where buses stopped.
“We are not the owners. The owners tell us to stop at these restaurants, so we do. The hotel authorities have managed the police and arranged for the buses to enter and leave this way,” he claimed.
The allegation also could not be verified independently.
POLICE DENY TAKING PAYMENTS
Hatikumrul Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Mahabur Rahman denied allegations that police receive payments or provide any special facilities to the hotels.
He acknowledged that some buses stop at the hotels but said the authorities had already taken steps to address the problem.
“Some vehicles are stopping at these hotels, and the matter has come to our notice. The school authorities have not made any complaint to us,” he said.
According to the OC, the main carriageway remains clear and some vehicles use the service lane.
“Some vehicles use the wrong side for a short distance. We have spoken to the hotel owners, and the number of such vehicles is decreasing. The problem will be resolved,” he said.
He also cited manpower shortages and the need to manage multiple responsibilities as constraints on the highway police.
Despite the police assurance, residents and school authorities remain concerned that allowing buses to cross lanes—even for short distances—creates a potentially deadly conflict between high-speed traffic and pedestrians.
They have demanded regular police deployment near the schools and underpass, strict enforcement against vehicles travelling against traffic, and an investigation into the allegations of payments to ensure that commercial interests do not override road-safety regulations.