One of the development commitments of the current government is to establish a unified communication system throughout the country. Since assuming power in 2018, the government has undertaken a number of major infrastructure projects related to roads, bridges, culverts, and highways. In this context, a notable milestone was achieved on June 25, 2022, with the opening of the Padma Bridge to traffic, resulting in a remarkable improvement in the communication system in the southern part of the country. Additionally, the construction of the “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Highway” up to Bhanga in Faridpur has transformed Bangladesh’s road connectivity into a network of expressways. Efforts have also begun to upgrade national highways to four lanes, including service lanes.
During the present government’s tenure, 100 bridges, spanning 5,494 metres have been inaugurated in 25 districts across eight divisions of the country. Furthermore, construction of a road tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli River is nearing completion.
The government is focused on establishing a network of six metro rail lines to address traffic congestion and ensure safer roads. The first metro rail section was inaugurated, connecting Uttara to Agargaon of Dhaka city on December 28, 2022. The metro rail is set to expand to Kamalapur by 2025, and another metro rail project covering 31.24 km with 21 stations, subways, and flyovers is slated for completion by 2026. The plans envision a further expansion of the metro rail network by 2030, including the addition of flyovers and subways which will revolutionise public transport in the process.
Under the 30-year Railway Master Plan, the government has implemented various development activities to enhance the railway sector. These include the construction of 739.7 km of new railway lines between 2009 and 2022, converting 280.3 km of meter gauge railway lines to dual gauge, the construction of 732 new rail bridges, and introduction of 144 new trains.
To promote waterway transportation for passengers, a circular waterway spanning 110 km has been developed around Dhaka, with the project’s second phase currently underway. The construction work for the long Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel project, covering a distance of 3.3 km, is in its final stages.
Furthermore, significant development work is being carried out at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The construction of a third terminal building spanning 230,000 square meters, a 63,000-square-meter export-import cargo complex, and other related infrastructure is expected to be completed by April 2024.
Publication Period: June 2023