United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday decided to build a highway along the Hijla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route to connect the island district of Bhola with the country’s main road network. The decision was taken at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, said his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. The meeting discussed three proposals for establishing direct road connectivity between Bhola and Dhaka and Barishal. Of them, the Roads and Highways Department’s proposed Barishal-Rahmatpur-Hijla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route was selected. The proposed highway will involve widening existing roads, constructing new road sections and building three small bridges, according to officials concerned. The Prime Minister stressed the need for an integrated road network to overcome geographical barriers and ensure uninterrupted connectivity, while also expanding opportunities for trade and commerce. He directed the authorities concerned to move forward quickly with the initiative to connect Bhola to the country’s main road network. Officials said the project’s feasibility and viability would be assessed at the earliest. Once implemented, the project is expected to establish direct road connectivity between Bhola, Barishal, Dhaka and other parts of the country, reducing both travel time and transportation costs. Surrounded by rivers, Bhola has long depended heavily on waterways for communication. The new road link is expected to reduce that dependence. Officials at the meeting said the Hijla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route could offer a shorter, faster and more cost-effective alternative, particularly for travel between Bhola, Barishal and Dhaka. Road Transport and Bridges and Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Division Rajib Ahsan, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rauf and Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Md Moniruzzaman, among others, attended the meeting.