[caption id="attachment_8395" align="alignleft" width="300"] The 20-kilometer stretch from Rajbari Road intersection in Faridpur town to Bhanga has fallen into disrepair. Potholes and broken surfaces have made this part of the highway hazardous for travel.[/caption]

Yesterday afternoon, Subrata Pal, a college student from Sitakunda, Chattogram, set out for his family home in Boalmari, Faridpur. But by the time he reached Bhanga in Faridpur, the constant jolts from the road left his body aching. Sitting still in his seat became almost impossible.

“I often travel this way to Dhaka and other places,” he said. “But because of the poor road conditions, the journey takes much longer and becomes extremely exhausting. Every time the wheels hit a pothole, it feels like the vehicle might topple. It’s frightening to pass through this stretch.”

The road he was talking about is the Faridpur–Barishal–Kuakata highway. Out of its 232 kilometers, a 20-kilometer stretch between Rajbari Road intersection in Faridpur town and Bhanga has turned into a nightmare. The asphalt has peeled off in many places, leaving deep potholes and broken patches. Large craters have made the surface uneven, and vehicles often lose balance when their wheels get stuck. Accidents are frequent here, and thousands of travelers like Subrata endure the same ordeal every day.