CHATTOGRAM, April 06, 2025 (BSS) - In the backdrop of 54 accidents killing 40 people and injuring 73 others in last months, protesters representing different segments of the society today formed a human chain demanding immediate schemes to expand existing Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway into six-lane.  Of the fatal road mishaps on the highway in last 3 months, 17 were killed and 30 injured in two separate accidents within span of 72 hours at Zangalia Mazar Gate under Lohagara upazila of the district on and after Eid-ul-Fitr day.   The human chain program was held in front of Deputy Commissioner's office on Sunday afternoon expressing their grave concern over growing number of road accidents and fatalities on the narrow Chattogram-Cox’sbazar highway particularly in the area stretching up to Lohagara upazila in southern Chattogram.  The organizers submitted a memorandum to the Chief Advisor of the interim government through Deputy Commissioner drawing quick attention of the CA over the issue.  Political leaders, lawyers, teachers, journalists and representatives from various socio-cultural bodies took part in the human chain program.    The protesters warned of launching tougher protest programs by April 30 if the government doesn’t response positively towards their demand.  "On each Eid occasions and major holidays, people of south Chattogram met tragic accidents on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway. People with their families used to visit to their ancestral village home to celebrate Eids with near and dear ones or holidaymakers from several parts of the country tours towards different tourists destinations including Cox’s Bazar and hilly Bandarban district to enjoy holidays, but hopes of many tourists smashed on the road due to tragic accidents,”  the protesters said. Terming Cox's Bazar an international tourist hub, the organizers said yet the highway dangerously narrowed and dilapidated at many points led to frequent accidents claiming lives of many innocent people. Emon Mohammad, a central organizer of Democratic Student Council elaborated on the specific challenges being posed by the current road structure and shape at the protest program.  "We want a proper six-lane road with a midpoint divider. The road is so narrow that even two buses cannot pass safely. Water that leaks from salt-carrying trucks often makes the road wet and slippery, recklessly driving of CNG-run three-wheelers and battery-run auto-rickshaws and lack of action against reckless and over speed are among the major causes of frequent accidents” he stated.  Former convener of BNP south district unit Abu Sufian said that the highway is the only road structure to go to Cox’s bazar and Bandarban.  Besides, huge volume of relief materials for Rohingya refuges being transported through this highway. Unnecessary and ambitious projects like Karnaphuli river tunnel by spending and wasting thousands of crore of Taka were implemented during ousted Awami League regime but no steps was taken during the last two and half decades to expand such an important highway.  He demanded to initiate necessary development schemes and keep sufficient budgetary allocation in next national budget to this end to safe live of innocent people as well as ensure safe journey for tourists from home and abroad. Deputy Attorney General Advocate Farid Uddin Khan said the highway has become a death trap.  “Volume of the traffic has been increased many times on Ctg-Coxs bazar highway as hundreds of vehicles from different parts of the country use the road. But poor and narrow condition of the highway cannot handle the traffic pressure” the lawyer, also former Lohagara upazila chairman, said. He alleged that after every accident, authorities take some repair works around accident spots to bluff the people instead of taking any sustainable and realistic development program.  Chairman of the development studies department of Chattogram University (CU) Prof. Md Soaeb, Mahmudur Rahman Sayeedi , a teacher of the CU’s department of Public Administration, journalists Towhid Alam and Minhajul Islam, advocates Md Sharif and Ziaur Rahman and Coordinator of Six-Lanes Implementation Council Mizanur Rahman among others spoke at the function.