Tanvir Alam, Roving Correspondent :
Residents of Bogura are demanding the construction of an underpass in front of the emergency department of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZRMCH) after its omission from the final design of the Dhaka-Rangpur highway expansion project. The hospital, the largest in the northern region, sees a high volume of patients and visitors, many of whom now face significant challenges crossing the highway.
Initially, the SASEC Project-2 included an underpass in front of the hospital’s emergency entrance, but it was later moved to the medical college gate. Locals argue that this change will not benefit the emergency department or the surrounding area, which includes several shops and medical facilities. Protests, human chains, and formal complaints have been lodged with authorities, demanding the reinstatement of the underpass at the original location.
Hospital officials and local leaders have echoed these concerns, stressing the need for safe crossing points at both the college and emergency department gates. Despite the urgency, the issue remains unresolved, prompting fears of further accidents and disruptions.