Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday told parliament that seven projects had been prioritised following the signing of the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).
The agreement establishes road connectivity between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, commonly called the BBIN countries.
The seven projects are the completion of the Dhaka-Chittagong national
highway, the construction of the Padma Bridge and its approach roads, the construction of a four-lane road linking the Kanchpur, Meghna and Gomti bridges, expanding the road between Benapole and the new Padma Bridge to four lanes, expanding the Joydebpur-Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur-Burimari/Banglabandha national highway to four lanes, expanding the Dhaka
(Kanchpur)-Narsingdi-Sarail-Sylhet-Tamabil national highway to four lanes and expanding the Baraierhat-Heako-Ramgarh highway to four lanes.
“Connectivity is like a flowing river. Development and progress is like a fairy tale angel. We want to move forward — we are working to turn the country into a middle income country and subsequently a developed country,” Obaidul said.
“The main person behind this achievement is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he told parliament in his statement on the MVA.
“Four neighbouring countries of South Asia are creating a golden harmony through roads, breaking the barriers of confusion and doubt. We have learnt to walk together for the sake of development,” the minister said.
“With the signing of the agreement, a unique road network will be established between the four countries,” he said adding that the MVA was a unique diplomatic effort to strengthen regional harmony.
The minister said personal, passenger and cargo vehicles may ply the selected routes connecting the countries. The objective is to help establish people-to-people contact and expand trade and commerce, he said.
