Dhaka, April 22 -- The damage caused to the Dhaka-Chattogram highway due to the overloading of goods-carrying vehicles is estimated to be at least Tk 8.61 billion annually.

The assessment, conducted by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), even deducted the costs associated with the savings on excess load transported and less consumption of fuel from the damage estimation.

The ousted Awami League government allowed transports with much higher loads than the highway's design capacity, officials say, amid demands from businesses.

They argued that allowing overload would help reduce the requirement for vehicles for transportation of the same quantity of goods, easing traffic congestion and saving fuel consumption, said the officials. ...