Sylhet-Charkhai-Sheola four-lane project: Land acquisition begins

S A Shofiee, Sylhet :

After much controversy, the land acquisition work for the Sylhet-Charkhai-Sheola four-lane project has finally begun.

The district administration has started the important work of land acquisition in the wake of the sincere efforts of Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md. Sarwar Alam and the strong demands of the leaders of political parties and social organizations.

This has brought relief to the public of the 4 upazilas of East Sylhet. The Roads and Highways Department is responsible for implementing this project, which was approved in the ECNEC meeting on April 11, 2023.

It is learned that this project was undertaken to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods from Sylhet to Sheola Land Port.

If the project is implemented, business and trade activities will increase in the four upazilas of Sylhet.

The Roads and Highways Department will spend 4,257.7 million taka to implement the project.

The World Bank will provide a loan of Tk 2,886.82 million for the implementation of the project. The government will provide the remaining Tk 1,370.25 million. A total of Tk 109.93 million has been proposed for various consultancy services in the project.

Sheola Land Port businessman Kamar Uddin said that regular import and export of goods between India and Bangladesh takes place through this port. Especially stone, cement, fruits, and products of the Pran-Sajeeb group are exchanged.

At least 200 heavy trucks ply this route every day during the peak season. But vehicles often get stuck due to the dilapidated Sheola Bridge. Business will be more brisk if a new four-lane road is built.

Planning Commission sources said that if the project is implemented, the movement of passengers and goods from Sylhet to Sheola Land Port will be faster and easier.

In addition, the expansion of regional connectivity with BBIN Corridor, SASEC Corridor, Asian Highway, BIMSTEC Corridor, BCIM Corridor, SAARC Corridor will increase trade and commerce activities, and will play a role in the country’s economic growth.

The project involves the acquisition of 247 acres of land, construction of about 43 kilometers of four-lane roads, two service lanes, 1,575 consultant services, 31 culverts, three bridges, a flyover, six overpasses, two underpasses, four footover bridges, seven pedestrian roads and a toll plaza.

Former Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Sher A. Mahbub Murad recommended the cancellation of this project of such public importance. When the matter became known everywhere, anger arose throughout the eastern part of Sylhet.

Upazila BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Sylhet Beanibazar Janakalyan Samity became quite active in implementing the project. Protests began with the submission of separate memorandums. In such a situation, the current Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam assured to reconsider the matter.

Alinagar Union Parishad Chairman Ahbabur Rahman Khan Shishu said that the land acquisition work has started in his union area from Monday. The project will be implemented in phases through other union areas up to Sylhet Bypass.

Beanibazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Umme Habiba Majumder said that some progress has been made in the implementation of the project. The district administration has officially started the land acquisition work. Other initiatives will be taken to implement the project in phases.