A purpose-built rest facility for goods vehicle drivers along the Dhaka–Khulna highway in Magura remains idle despite an investment of more than Tk50 crore, raising concerns over poor utilisation of public resources.
The facility, situated in the Laxmikandar area, was constructed under a government initiative to promote safer and more sustainable highways by providing designated parking and rest services for long-distance truck drivers.
Launched in 2019, the project aimed to set up four such facilities along national highways across different regions to address accidents linked to driver fatigue.
In Magura, a four-storey complex equipped with modern amenities was developed as part of the programme.
Officials from the Roads and Highways Department said the facilities were designed to allow drivers to take breaks after prolonged driving, which often leads to drowsiness and heightens accident risks.
The complex includes sleeping arrangements, parking space for goods vehicles, recreational facilities, a canteen, bathing areas, prayer space, first aid services, vehicle repair workshops, wash zones, uninterrupted electricity, modern sanitation systems, landscaped surroundings and security infrastructure.
The rest centres were expected to ease travel fatigue and improve highway safety by ensuring drivers could rest before continuing long journeys.
Across the country, four such centres were built in Magura, Cumilla, Sirajganj and Habiganj at a combined cost of Tk226.21 crore.
However, the Magura facility has remained unused for more than one year since being handed over in December 2024.
Residents said the project had raised expectations of improved road safety, as drivers often operate vehicles for extended hours without rest.
They said the unused infrastructure is gradually deteriorating despite its potential to serve both drivers and passengers.
Locals, including tea seller Ambiya Khatun, truck driver Mominul Islam and easy-bike driver Rahim Uddin, said the centre, spread over about 6.5 acres, could have created employment opportunities for many if it had been operational.
Truck driver Mahiyuddin Ahmed, who regularly travels long distances, said there are no designated parking areas on highways, forcing drivers to stop by the roadside to rest.
He said the facility would allow drivers to rest properly, safeguard their vehicles and maintain their physical condition for driving.
Another driver, Momtaz Uddin, said the infrastructure was built for drivers’ benefit and could help reduce accidents, but its continued closure means drivers still rely on roadside stops for rest.
Roads and Highways Department Sub-Divisional Engineer Md Ilyas Faruk said a tender was invited on 5 April this year to start operations, following instructions from higher authorities.
He said no bidders came forward, prompting authorities to call a fresh tender on April 27.
The facility will be opened once a suitable bidder is selected, he said, seeking cooperation from all stakeholders.
According to available data, more than 17 people die every day in road accidents in Bangladesh.
In 2025, road crashes claimed 7,359 lives, with buses and trucks accounting for the highest number of casualties.
Between 2021 and 2025, highway accidents rose by at least 34 per cent, with many linked to drivers operating vehicles for long hours without adequate rest.
