United News of Bangladesh

The government has undertaken a Tk 1,064.26 crore project to widen and upgrade  Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari Regional Highway in a bid to improve road safety, strengthen connectivity and boost economic activities in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the Road Transport and Highways Division will implement the project, titled “Widening and Upgradation of Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari Regional Highway (R-162).” A 3.6km road, 54 years of waiting in Lalmonirhat The entire cost will be financed by the government from its own funds and the work is expected to be completed by December, 2029. Officials said the 61.50-kilometre highway, which falls under the Rangamati Road Circle, connects key areas of Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts in Chattogram division. The project area includes Rangamati Sadar and Naniarchar upazilas in Rangamati district and Khagrachhari Sadar and Mahalchhari upazilas in Khagrachhari district. According to project documents, about 14.85 km of the road currently has a width of 5.50 metres, while the remaining 46.65 km is only 3.7 metres wide—far below the standard required for a regional highway. Road to Heaven: Gujarat’s surreal highway flanked by water and salt pans The 38.35 km stretch from Rangamati to Mahalchhari was originally constructed around 1986 under the Chengi Valley Project. Later, the 23.15 km section from Mahalchhari to Khagrachhari was developed by the Khagrachhari Road Division with government funding. Despite being classified as a regional highway, the road has not been upgraded to standard width and specifications, leading to frequent accidents and growing concerns among local residents and transport operators. Under the new project, major works will include earth filling, strengthening and widening of the existing pavement, raising pavement levels, and constructing approach roads. Bituminous binder and wearing courses will also be laid. Besides, rigid pavement and bus bays will be constructed at selected locations, while RCC retaining walls, brick masonry guide walls, concrete guide posts and guardrails will be installed to improve road safety. The project will also involve construction of new culverts, extension of existing culverts, installation of V drains and U drains, boundary walls, tree plantation and relocation of utility services. Officials said the improved highway would help establish a safer, more comfortable and time-efficient road network in the region. A Planning Commission official said the project would significantly upgrade the standard of the existing road infrastructure through widening and strengthening of the regional highway. “Once implemented, the project will help establish an improved, safe, comfortable and cost-effective road network in the region,” the official said. He added that the upgraded highway would facilitate faster transportation of locally produced goods to Chattogram port city and other parts of the country, reducing both travel time and transportation costs. The improved connectivity is also expected to create employment opportunities, accelerate socio-economic development in the hill districts and unlock greater potential for tourism in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Stakeholders believe the project will play a crucial role in integrating the remote hill areas with the national road network and improving overall mobility in the region.

Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared six development projects, including the Tk 7,189 crore project to upgrade Cumilla-Brahmanbaria National Highway to four lanes. The highway from Mainamati of Cumilla to Dharkhar of Brahmanbaria will be upgraded into a four-lane one, with separate lanes for slow vehicles on both sides, by June 2026. The project aims to establish fast, safe and cost-effective road connectivity between Sylhet and Chattogram regions. The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by its chair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined the event through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Also read: Ecnec postpones Tk 236-crore project of Teletalk to save dollars “The total estimated cost of the six approved projects is some Tk 8,739.68 crore (only additional costs of three revised projects were included),” Planning Minister MA Mannan said at a press briefing after the meeting was held at the NEC Conference Room. Of the total cost, Tk 5,929.03 crore will be drawn from the government’s fund, while the rest Tk 2,810.65 crore will come as foreign loan, he said. According to the Planning Commission, the project titled ‘Upgrading Cumilla (Mainamati)-Brahmanbaria (Dharkhar) National Highway into Four Lanes’ will be executed at the cost of Tk 7,188.66 crore. Also read: Metro Rail (MRT Line-6) project cost goes up by Tk 11,486 cr; Gets Ecnec nod The government will finance Tk 4,378 crore and the rest Tk 2,810.65 crore will come from the Indian Line of Credit (LoC). The major project operations are acquisition of 103 hectares of lands, construction of 14 bridges (with total length of 1,218.44 meters), one 1,030-meter flyover, two underpasses, 50 culverts, 12 foot-over bridges, 50-km flexible pavement and 4.5-km rigid pavement.

Bangladesh has requested Thailand to include Bangladesh in the Trilateral Highway project being implemented among India, Myanmar and Thailand. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had a bilateral meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai here on the sidelines of 18th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Tuesday and sought the Thai government's support for Bangladesh's inclusion in the project, noting that "connectivity is productivity."  The two Foreign Ministers enthusiastically agreed to hold a befitting program in celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Thailand.   Foreign Minister Momen underscored the necessity to immediately hold the next meeting of  Bangladesh-Thailand Joint Commission to discuss and review the entire gamut of bilateral relations.  READ: JS body for using Thailand’s experiences in Rohingya repatriation Given Bangladesh's growing capacity in the agriculture sector, Foreign Minister of Thailand requested for export of fertilizers to Thailand, if surplus is available.  He also stressed on the importance of concluding bilateral FTA for benefits of the two countries.  The two foreign Ministers greeted each other.  Foreign Minister of Bangladesh congratulated his Thai counterpart on the assumption of chairmanship of BIMSTEC.    They also agreed to work together under the framework of BIMSTEC. Foreign Minister Momen thanked the Thai FM for their decision to allow entry of tourists in Thailand from April 1 which would promote people to people contacts between the two countries.  Both the Foreign Ministers agreed to closely work for enhancement of trade and investment.  The two sides also committed to cooperate with each other in various regional and multilateral fora. Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams, Rector of Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy Asad Alam Siam and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam were also present.