Govt moves to construct 317 km border roads

FT ONLINE

The government has taken a big initiative to construct some 317 kilometers 'border roads' in the hilly areas on the India and Myanmar frontiers to support the border guards in ensuring stronger security by using improved road communication.

To this end, the Roads and Highways Department under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has prepared a draft project titled 'Construction of Border Roads' and sent it to the Planning Commission, said a Planning Commission official said.

The official said the Road and Highways Department and the Special Works Organization of the Bangladesh Army have been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the project by June 2021 in six upazilas of Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Rangamati and Cox's Bazar districts with an estimated cost of around Taka 1,700 crore.

"All necessary preparations have been completed and the project will be placed before the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) soon," said the official, adding that the Pre Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting on the project has also been held.

Another official at the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges said, in the hilly areas, Bangladesh has around 540 kilometers borders - 330 kilometers with India and 210 kilometers with Myanmar.

This area is often susceptible to the smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition and human trafficking, added the official.

The official said once the project is implemented, strict security will be ensured in the hilly frontier areas through improved road communication side by side curbing illegal drugs and arms smuggling.

Besides, implementation of the project will also help expansion of trade and commerce in the Southeast Asia, development of tourism facilities in the hilly areas for the local and foreign tourists, facilitate marketing of agricultural products to boost economic activities and thus generate employment opportunities for the local people there.

The proposed project will be implemented at Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban, Juraichhari, Borkol and Rajstali upazilas of Rangamati, Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar and Baghaichhari upazila of Khagrachhari.

Out of the proposed 317 kilometers roads, some 40 kilometers will be constructed on the Ukhia-Ashartoli-Fooltuli route, 52 kilometers on the Sajek-Shildah-Betling, 95 kilometers on Sajek-Dokanghat-Thegamukh, and 130 kilometers on Thegamukh-Loitongpara-Thachhi-Dumdumia-Rajsthali route.