SM Shipper, Nazirpur (Pirojpur)

Two decades after its inauguration, the Pirojpur Central Bus Terminal in the district’s Machimpur area remains in a state of severe disrepair, causing immense hardship for thousands of daily commuters and transport workers.

Constructed in 2006, the terminal has not undergone any major renovation or modernization to keep pace with growing demand. Today, over 300 to 400 buses operate daily from the hub, carrying around 30,000 to 35,000 passengers—a volume far exceeding its original capacity.

The situation turns hazardous during the monsoon. Even brief rainfall submerges the terminal area in knee-deep water, concealing deep potholes that turn into dangerous traps. Commuters, including women, children, and elderly citizens, are forced to wade through mud and water to reach their buses.

Transport operators report frequent accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and tire damage caused by submerged craters. Furthermore, due to severe space constraints inside the terminal, buses are routinely parked on both sides of the adjacent bypass road, causing severe traffic congestion. Essential civic amenities—such as adequate seating, proper walkways, and effective drainage—are virtually non-existent, while the terminal building itself has grown structurally unsafe.

Describing the deteriorating conditions, Giasuddin, a local bus counter director, shared that several passengers and auto-rickshaw commuters have suffered injuries over the past year due to overturning vehicles and deep ditches.

Addressing the issue, Principal Alamgir Hossain, President of the Pirojpur District Bus and Minibus Owners Association, stated that repeated written requests have been sent to municipal authorities for immediate renovation, but no concrete action has been taken yet.

When contacted, Dhruv Lal Dutta Banik, Executive Engineer of Pirojpur Municipality, acknowledged the crisis, stating that comprehensive renovation and modernization would require an estimated budget of Tk 15 crore. He noted that the municipality cannot fund a project of this scale independently and must rely on government allocation and new project approvals to initiate work.