Hatirjheel roads turn hazardous due to unmarked speed breakers

Highlights:

• Locals blame frequent accidents on unmarked speed breakers, potholes and poor road maintenance
• Missing road markings, faulty streetlights and rain-submerged potholes make the roads hazardous
• Motorcyclists face the highest risk, residents say
• Rajuk says speed breaker markings will be installed after ongoing repair work is completed

Senior journalist Rashidul Hasan on Sunday (24 May) was riding his motorcycle around noon near the FDC Boat Pier in Hatirjheel. Failing to notice an unmarked speed bump, he lost control, fell, and sustained severe head and leg injuries, with bleeding from the nose and mouth.

Rashidul, chief reporter (Digital) of the English daily The Daily Star, is now on life support.

Family sources said locals rushed Rashidul to Samorita Hospital in Tejgaon for initial treatment. He was later shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Square Hospital.

Accidents are reportedly on the rise in Hatirjheel roads due to unmarked speed breakers, potholes, and poor maintenance, according to local residents and drivers. 

Witnesses and local residents said loss-of-control incidents are becoming frequent due to unmarked speed breakers and sudden, hard-to-spot potholes.

Although the road was recently renovated to address potholes, they said conditions have not improved due to the absence of proper signage and safety markings, with minor accidents occurring regularly.

Despite long-standing problems, the authorities concerned have failed to take effective measures or ensure adequate road safety, locals and drivers alleged.

They said unmarked speed breakers are nearly invisible at night, while potholes become submerged during rainfall, forcing commuters to take risks daily.

Poor maintenance blamed

Of the nearly 11-kilometre circular road, around 8 kilometres are currently in use. On-site observations show large potholes at several points along the road, which is maintained under the supervision of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

During recent visits to Police Plaza to Rampura, Madhubagh, FDC, and Tejgaon areas, TBS correspondents found that streetlights are often non-functional, road markings are missing, and potholes are frequently hidden under rainwater, making hazards difficult to detect from a distance.

Local businessmen and drivers echoed similar concerns. A hawker from the Madhubagh area said accidents frequently occur due to potholes and unmarked speed breakers, with motorcyclists facing the highest risk.

A regular motorcyclist using the Hatirjheel road said, “There are no paint markings or signs on the speed breakers here. Accidents happen before one can even realise it.”

However, there is no official data on minor accidents, as many drivers leave the scene without informing police.

Hatirjheel Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Asaduzzamansaid many drivers do not report accidents. However, police investigate incidents in cases of death or formal complaints.

Speed breaker markings after road repair: Rajuk

Rajuk, who is overseeing the project, said road repair work is ongoing. Of the approximately 11.5 kilometres of road, 8 kilometres of work have been completed.

Rajuk Executive Engineer (Civil) Tasmin Huda said markings and speed breaker indicators will be installed after the remaining work is completed.

She said delays occurred due to administrative complications and rainfall, adding that work was halted during the election period. Progress has also been slowed by rain. Full-scale work, she added, will resume after Eid.

Locals allege that although the Hatirjheel project has become one of the capital’s key road networks, weak maintenance and lack of safety measures have turned it into an accident-prone stretch.