Sohidul Alom Munna, Gopalganj Correspondent || The entrance to Kashiani Upazila in Gopalganj has become an unannounced ‘death trap’ today. The only main road from the Dhaka-Khulna highway to the upazila headquarters is so narrow and dilapidated that thousands of people risk their lives every day to travel there. Long-standing neglect, lack of road development and the absence of any alternative connection have created a terrible communication crisis in Kashiani—which can lead to major accidents at any moment.On Monday (December 8) afternoon, it was seen that the section where the highway turns towards the upazila headquarters is in extreme chaos. Big buses, trucks, lorries, goods-laden vehicles and small transports have to almost stop while getting on and off the narrow road. Cars are about to lose control of their speed while entering the narrow entrance from the width of the highway, resulting in the need to apply emergency brakes multiple times in a few minutes—which further increases the risk of accidents.On the other hand, the small bypass road that is an alternative has become practically impassable due to long-standing lack of repairs. The road is full of potholes, broken sections, stagnant water and muddy areas, making it dangerous for small vehicles to move around. Locals say that the condition of the road looks as if no one has taken care of it for many years. ‘The road entering the upazila is the most shameful today.’Saima Islam, a student of Kashiani G.C. Pilot High School, comes to school every day via this road. She says of the fear and uncertainty, “I feel scared coming to school every day. The road is so narrow and broken that when I cross the highway, I feel like an accident might happen today. Sometimes trucks and buses pass very close, and then I feel like my life is at risk. We are children, we need safe roads.”Rifat Hossain, a student at the Institute of Health Technology (IHT), said, “During the holidays, there is a lot of traffic. Since the road is narrow, we stand in line, but suddenly a big car enters. I have seen very scary situations several times. I don’t know when this road will be fixed.”Md. Mahbub Alam Fakir, a resident of Kashiani Sadar area, expressed his anger and said, “This entrance is no longer a road, it has become a death trap. Big buses in front, trucks behind—just standing on the narrow slope seems to cause accidents. We don’t want a developed road—we just want a safe way to travel. People are taking risks every day due to this narrow entrance and the road full of potholes. If the administration had stood here and seen the situation, they would have understood—this road cannot be saved. How long will we continue to live with this risk? If the road is not widened, a major accident is just a matter of time.”Motorcyclist Riyad Sheikh said, “Riding a motorcycle through this entrance means passing by death every day. With trucks in front, buses behind—whenever you climb the slope of the narrow road, you feel like your bike is going to flip over. Potholes, dust, and broken edges—all of this place is a nightmare for motorcyclists. The fear of losing control if you speed up a little bit. It’s as if luck is better than life and you can only return safely through this road if you have good luck. If the entrance is not fixed, the road will cry in a big accident at any time, not the people.”Bus driver Tanvir Masud said, “The most frightening part is the intersection where you enter the upazila from the highway. A small mistake while turning a big vehicle can lead to a major accident. There is a bypass, but it is so narrow and broken that no one can use it. When you take the steering wheel at this entrance, it feels like you are racing against death. As soon as you get off the highway, the road becomes so narrow—one mistake means going straight under a truck. We enter here every day with passengers, but the fear in our heads remains in the same place. The condition of the road is such—as if an accident is waiting to happen. The narrowness is such that at night, the road boundaries are lost in the reflection of the lights. You have to risk your life driving on this road.”Truck driver Liton Molla said, “Is this the entrance to an upazila? It looks like a broken alley of a warehouse. Every time I drive a big car, I feel like I’m going to overturn. Potholes, mud and narrow roads – all in all, it’s one of the most dangerous entrances in the country. But the authorities don’t seem to notice anything. Whenever there is no turn from the highway, I feel like ‘this is the end’ – I have never seen such risky driving anywhere in the world.”Organizing Secretary of the Upazila Market Traders’ Association Md. Hero Mridha said, “If the road is not wide, the business and commerce of this area will not progress. It is scary to even bring goods by truck from outside – you have to keep this thought in mind that an accident will happen at any time.”Locals including businessmen, students, public transport drivers complain – Kashiani Upazila is an important business and populated area of ​​Gopalganj. Thousands of people enter the upazila headquarters every day. But this narrowness of the entrance is not only a threat to people's lives, but is also having a serious impact on local trade, education, healthcare and agricultural transport.Locals said that although the local administration, roads and township departments and public representatives have been informed about the poor condition of the road many times, no effective initiative has been taken. During the rainy season, some parts of the road are submerged in water, and during the dry season, dust makes movement difficult. "Why will the entrance road of this important upazila of the district remain neglected for years? Will everything start moving only after an accident?"Locals have demanded that five immediate initiatives be taken to make the entrance safe and modern—1. Widening and immediate renovation of the main entrance road2. Rapid reconstruction of the alternative bypass road and making it suitable for traffic3. Installation of signals, signboards and safety systems at highway junctions4. Appointent of traffic police to control vehicles or automated safety systems5. Upgrading the highway-upazila junction means modern“A major accident can happen at any time. If action is not taken now, the entrance to Kashiani will completely turn into a death trap.”Experts believe that the combination of narrow entrances on busy highways, junctions without signals, and pothole-filled bypass roads is the main cause of major accidents in any area. This entrance to Kashiani also carries the same threat. They believe that the situation could become more dire if urgent action is not taken.