Hasnat Calls for Urgent Upgrade of Cumilla-Sylhet Road

Bangla Press Desk:   National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abul Hasnat has urged parliament for the urgent widening of the Debidwar section of the Cumilla-Sylhet Highway.

Taking the floor on a point of order during Wednesday’s session, Hasnat described the vital highway stretch as a “death trap”.

He highlighted that despite connecting two divisional headquarters, a specific portion of the road remains only 18 feet wide.

“There is no other road in Bangladesh that connects two divisional cities but is only 18 feet wide,” said the MP from the Cumilla-4 constituency, who is better known as Hasnat Abdullah.

He referred to the section spanning Mainamati, Debidwar, Jafarganj, and Kangshanagar, which serves as a crucial link for people in Brahmanpara and Burichang, as well as commuters travelling between Chattogram and Sylhet.

“This road serves nearly one million people, yet it has become a death trap. In this month alone, 23 people have died in accidents on this stretch,” he claimed.

He also alleged that no progress had been made in 12 years due to administrative complications.

Expressing the immense local pressure he faces, Hasnat told the House: “I cannot show my face in my constituency; they will tie me up. I beg of this parliament—this road will save the lives of a million people.”

In response, Deputy Speaker Kayser Kanal advised the lawmaker to submit a formal notice under the rules of procedure to ensure a structured response from the relevant minister.

“That would be the most appropriate way for the minister to provide an answer and for the procedure to work,” the deputy speaker added.