A 39-kilometre road stretching from Mokamtala Highway in Bogra through Tekanichukainagar in Sonatala to Sariakandi is set to be upgraded to a four-lane highway.
Bogra-1 (Sariakandi–Sonatala) Member of Parliament Kazi Rafiqul Islam has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges regarding the project. The news has generated strong enthusiasm among local residents.
Locals say transportation from the remote char areas of Sonatala to Mokamtala is currently difficult, with rough road conditions causing significant damage to agricultural produce, particularly vegetables. Once upgraded, fresh produce from the char regions is expected to reach the Dhaka–Rangpur Highway at Mokamtala within 30 minutes, enabling faster distribution to Dhaka and other major cities via truck transport.
They further noted that the improved road would reduce transportation costs by at least 40%. At present, the journey between Mokamtala and Sariakandi takes around two to two and a half hours.
After the four-lane upgrade, travel time is expected to drop to approximately 40 minutes. This would also allow wholesalers to directly visit the char areas for procurement, reducing reliance on intermediaries and limiting middlemen’s influence in the supply chain.
Residents believe the project will significantly boost local trade and business activity while also opening new opportunities for tourism development. Sariakandi’s Jamuna River attractions, including the Kalitala Groyne and Dighalkandi Prem Jamuna Ghat, are already popular destinations in northern Bangladesh. Improved connectivity is expected to increase tourist access to these riverside sites.
Locals added that the upgraded road would serve not only as a transport corridor but also as a catalyst for poverty reduction and improved living standards in the region.
Sonatala Upazila Engineer Atikur Rahman Talukdar said the importance of the road has led MP Kazi Rafiqul Islam to submit a DO letter to the Roads and Highways Department requesting its upgrade to a four-lane project.
He added that the initiative, if implemented, would ease long-standing travel and transport difficulties and improve the overall quality of life for residents
