Dhaka, June 17 -- Years of neglect and poor upkeep have left more than 100 potholes and craters peppering the Meghna-Dhanagoda embankment in Chandpur's Matlab North Upazila, putting the critical flood barrier at serious risk.

A recent ground survey of roughly 25km between Satnal and Amirabad found 10 to 12 large breaches and 40 to 50 smaller pits along the embankment of Bangladesh's second-largest irrigation project.

In places, soil has collapsed beneath the road surface, leaving hollow voids underneath; elsewhere, sections of the road hang suspended in the air.

Hundreds of thousands of people cross the embankment daily, putting their lives at risk.

Residents say new holes open up after every bout of rain while existing ones keep wide...