Bhola to be connected to national road network by highway

The government has decided to construct a highway along the Rahmatpur - Hizla - Mehendiganj Bhola route to connect the island district of Bhola with the country’s main road network. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities concerned to take swift steps to advance the initiative.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday. The Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Mostafa Zulfikar Hasan Shiplu, disclosed the information.

Three proposals were discussed at the meeting to establish direct road connectivity between Bhola, Dhaka and Barishal. Among them, the route proposed by the Roads and Highways Department Barishal Rahmatpur-Hizla-Mehendiganj-Bhola was selected.

Under the plan, existing roads along the route will be widened, while new roads and three small bridges will also be constructed. A feasibility and viability assessment of the proposed project will be carried out soon.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasized the need to develop an integrated road network to overcome geographical barriers, ensure uninterrupted connectivity and expand trade and business opportunities. He instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the initiative to connect Bhola with the national road network.

Once implemented, the project is expected to establish direct road links between Bhola, Barishal, Dhaka and other parts of the country. This would reduce both travel time and transportation costs, officials said.

As Bhola is surrounded by rivers, its residents have long depended heavily on waterways for transportation. The new road connection is expected to reduce that dependence significantly.

Officials at the meeting said the Hizla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route has major advantages in terms of distance, travel time and cost savings. In particular, it could become an effective alternative route for travel between Bhola and Dhaka and Barishal.

Road Transport and Bridges and Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Rajib Ahsan, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Mohammad Moniruzzaman, and senior officials from the relevant agencies attended the meeting.

-HIS