On the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway, the sleek flyover of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) at Abdullahpur in Uttara feels somewhat like driving on the smooth roads of Singapore. But beneath that structure, the reality is completely different—broken, potholed streets where vehicles sway dangerously. Accidents are frequent, and both drivers and passengers suffer daily hardship. Many frustrated commuters commented, “The flyover may look like Singapore, but below it, Abdullahpur hasn’t changed at all.”

A visit to the spot revealed that all four lanes of the road in this section are in terrible shape. From Polwell Market to White Palace Hotel in Uttara Sector-9, the road surface is full of cracks and potholes, with stagnant water whenever it rains. Out of four lanes, only one is barely passable, forcing vehicles to crawl in a long line. If a vehicle gets stuck in a hole, others have to risk passing through even more broken stretches.

The condition between Tongi Bridge and Polwell Market is equally bad—three out of four lanes are broken. Traffic often squeezes into the extreme left lane, which is regularly occupied by battery-run rickshaws.

Local residents and business owners say it’s unbelievable that such a key highway in the capital is in worse condition than many rural roads. A one-minute distance can sometimes take half an hour to an hour. Vehicles shake while moving, and pedestrians struggle with mud, potholes, and waterlogging.

Shopkeepers complain that due to the suffering, people avoid Abdullahpur unless absolutely necessary, leaving local markets in decline.

Traffic police stationed in Abdullahpur said potholes have remained for a long time, and without a proper drainage system, even light rain leaves water for days. Accidents occur daily, and breakdowns are common. Whenever a vehicle gets stuck in a hole, it creates severe traffic jams. A tow truck is kept permanently at Abdullahpur, but even then, removing heavy trucks often damages the tow truck itself.

Merchants from Tongi and Uttara add that the Bailey Bridge in Tongi has long been unusable, and now with Abdullahpur’s road problems, transporting goods by truck has become risky. Recently, a large lorry carrying garments broke down after falling into a hole near Abdullahpur. The driver said repair costs were double the transport fare, and the cargo had to be transferred to another truck.

Traffic Inspector Md. Yunus Mia of the DMP’s Abdullahpur box noted that vehicles from 17 northern districts pass through this stretch. Without a sewerage line, rainwater lingers for days, creating new potholes. Despite the road’s miserable state for over six months, neither the BRT authority nor the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) have taken effective measures.

When contacted, BRT Managing Director (Deputy Secretary) Md. Nurul Amin Khan said, “Road maintenance falls under RHD and the Bridges Division, not under us.”

Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional Chief Engineer of RHD’s planning and maintenance division, and Supervising Engineer Saif Uddin of the Dhaka Circle, mentioned that the Bridges Authority held a meeting last month about the matter. The project director of the Bridges Authority could provide more details.

Project Director of the BRT under the Bridges Authority, Abul Hossain, explained that their project officially ended on December 31. They have since sent an estimated repair cost to the Bridges Division. Once funds are allocated through the Finance Division, permanent repairs will be carried out.