PM okays Bhola-mainland highway plan
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has approved a plan to build a highway connecting Bhola with the country’s main road network through Barishal, potentially reducing travel time and transport costs for people and businesses in the island district.
The decision was made at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday, according to a press release from the PMO.
The proposed highway will run through the Barishal-Rahmatpur-Hizla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route. The route was selected from three proposals considered for establishing direct road connectivity between Bhola and Dhaka and other parts of the country, including Barishal. Under the plan, existing roads along the route will be widened, new road sections will be constructed and three bridges will be built.
Officials will now conduct a feasibility study and assess the project’s implementation on a priority basis.
If implemented, the highway would provide Bhola with direct road access to the mainland, reducing the district’s long-standing dependence on waterways for transportation.
At the meeting, the prime minister stressed the need for an integrated road network to overcome geographical barriers and ensure uninterrupted connectivity. He also said improved connectivity would help expand trade and commerce and instructed the authorities concerned to expedite the initiative.
Officials said the selected route has advantages in terms of distance, travel time and construction costs. It could also provide an alternative road link between Bhola and other parts of the country.
Bhola, an island district surrounded by rivers, has traditionally relied heavily on waterways for communication and transport. The proposed highway is therefore expected to have a significant impact on the movement of people and goods if the project is eventually implemented.
Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Md Rajib Ahsan, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf and Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Md Moniruzzaman attended the meeting.
