Road link to be built for Bhola as PM approves highway construction
Collected Photo
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has approved the construction of a highway along the Rahmatpur, Hizla, Mehendiganj and Bhola route to connect the island district of Bhola with the country’s main road network.
The decision was made at a meeting on the matter at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Saturday. Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu provided the information.
At the meeting, three proposals were discussed to establish direct road connectivity between Bhola and Dhaka and Barishal. Of these, the Barishal, Rahmatpur, Hizla, Mehendiganj and Bhola route proposed by the Roads and Highways Department was selected. A highway will be constructed along this route to connect Bhola with the country’s main road network.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasized the need to develop an integrated road system to remove geographical barriers and expand uninterrupted connectivity and opportunities for trade and commerce. He directed the concerned authorities to move forward quickly with the initiative to connect Bhola to the main road network.
Project officials said the proposed route will require widening existing roads as well as constructing new roads and three small bridges. The project’s feasibility and implementation prospects will be assessed quickly.
Once implemented, the project will establish direct road connectivity between Bhola and Barishal, Dhaka and other parts of the country. This is expected to reduce both travel time and costs, according to the concerned officials.
As Bhola is surrounded by rivers, its people have long depended on waterways for transportation. The new road connection is expected to reduce that dependence.
Officials at the meeting said a major advantage of the Hizla, Mehendiganj and Bhola route is that it will save distance, time and costs. In particular, it could become an effective alternative route for connecting Bhola with Dhaka and Barishal.
Road Transport and Bridges and Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabbiul Alam, State Minister for the Ministry of Shipping and the Bridges Division Rajib Ahsan, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Secretary of the Bridges Division Mohammad Abdur Rauf and Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department Md. Moniruzzaman, along with senior officials from the concerned departments, were present at the meeting.
