Aiming at developing world-class road communications network, the government has made a massive progress in extensive communications system across the country.
Besides roads and flyovers, there is a plan to build subways in the country. After the 50 years of independence, the communications system of Bangladesh is now an example of a new revolution.
After being released from prison in Pakistan in January 1972, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started rebuilding the country from the rubble.
Now under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu Tunnel, Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway are being constructed in the country. Roads and highways, bridges, culverts, flyovers, marine drives are being constructed one after another. Many of these projects have been completed while many of the projects are in the last phase. Apart from foreign funding, these construction works are also funded by the government.
According to the government data, the Padma Bridge is now visible after the last span was installed in December last year. Currently, the work of laying slabs of railways and roads is in progress. The progress of the construction of the main bridge is about 92.50 percent, the progress of river management work is 80 percent and the overall progress of the project is 84.50 percent.
Another major project in progress at present is the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in the Karnafuli River in Chattogram. Boring work has already been completed, including the replacement of a tube ring about two and a half kilometer long. Construction of 200-meter road slab of the tube has been completed. 700 meters of boring work of the second tube has been completed. According to the bridge department, the progress of the construction of the tunnel has been 65 percent so far. According to the Department of Roads and Highways (RHD), there are currently 21,302 km of national and regional highways and district roads under the Road Transport and Highways Department across the country. It has 4,404 bridges and 14,894 culverts.
Already 4,331 km of highways have been reinforced and 5,171 km of highways have been widened. 417 km of national highways have been upgraded to four lanes or more. In addition, work is underway to upgrade another 1,752 km of national highways to four lanes.
In addition, an 80 km long marine drive from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf has also been constructed which has now become one of the major tourist attractions.
Besides, many projects have been taken to reduce the long traffic congestion in Dhaka city. Projects like Metro Rail have been taken to reduce traffic congestion in the capital. Construction of Metro Rail from Uttara's third phase to Bangladesh Bank is now progressing fast. The progress of the work of this project is 58.72 percent. The first set of metro trains is expected to arrive in the country next April.
The government also has plans to build four more metro rails on a priority basis.
Apart from this, construction work of high-speed bus rapid transit or BRT route from Gazipur circle to the airport is also continuing. Work is also underway on the 46.73 km long Dhaka Elevated Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.
Construction of the two-lane Kanchpur, Meghna, and Gomti bridges on the Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway has been completed. A four-lane Payra Bridge is being constructed on the Barisal-Patuakhali National Highway. Work on the third Shitalakshya Bridge is underway.
Development activities are also underway in the communications sector of three hill districts Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban. A new road has been constructed to connect Bandarban with Cox's Bazar.
Regarding the overall development of the communications sector, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader recently said, “The construction of communications infrastructure has revolutionized the communications sector in the country. This is only possible due to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The dream Padma Bridge is now visible. Projects like Metro Rail, Karnafuli Tunnel, and Elevated Expressway are under construction”.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury recently said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has brought a revolutionary change in the communications sector. Bangladesh witnessed a huge development within a short time under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina which is more than the development taken in the past 40 years”.
