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Expressing deep frustration over persistent road accidents on the highway, National Citizen Party (NCP) MP from Cumilla-4 Abul Hasnat (Hasnat Abdullah) on Wednesday made an urgent plea in Parliament to widen the Cumilla-Sylhet highway.
During a point of order speech, he stated that the highway has become so dangerous that he is "unable to show his face" to his constituents, fearing they might "tie him up" in protest against lack of development.
Participating in an unscheduled discussion following the Maghrib prayer break, Hasnat Abdullah highlighted the grim reality of the Debidwar-Burichang portion of the highway.
He noted that even as he rose to speak, news arrived of three young men dying in a fresh accident in Debidwar.
"This is a regular occurrence. In this month alone, 23 people have died on this road. It has turned into a death procession," the MP told the House.
He pointed out a significant infrastructural anomaly: the highway is the primary link between Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, yet it is only 18 feet in width.
Hasnat Abdullah argued that no other road in Bangladesh connecting two major divisions is so narrow.
According to him, the highway serves over 10 lakh people across Brahmanpara, Burichang and Debidwar.
Despite its critical role, the MP claimed that "administrative complexities" have stalled any significant expansion work for the past 10-12 years.
"This highway was supposed to be a six-lane one, but it remains at 18 feet. I have contacted the office of the minister concerned and relevant departments repeatedly, but no action has been taken," he said, calling for an immediate ruling to expedite the widening process.
In response to the MP's emotional appeal, Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal, who was in the chair, advised him to follow standard parliamentary procedure by issuing a formal notice under Rule 71, noting that this is the appropriate mechanism to receive a formal commitment and timeline from the minister concerned, ensuring that work proceeds according to the rules of procedure.
