Home ›› 10 Dec 2021 ›› Front
Bangladesh is going about mega infrastructure development for a greater economic interest since an improved road and rail network system works as a catalyst for any growing economy, and unlocks an avenue of potentials.
The huge infrastructure revolution that is taking place is the first of its kind since independence.
Professor Shamsul Haque, Civil Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), told The Business Post immediately after independence the government renovated many damaged roads and bridges including Hardinge Bridge but could not build any impactful structure.
Prior to 1971 no major development in road-rail network was evident in this territory.
The academician observed that Bangladesh’s rural road network got a facelift and a few roads and bridges in and outside the capital were built after 30 years of independence, with some exceptions such as Jamuna Bridge and Testa Barrage.
He said after 8-9 months of independence Bangabandhu visited Japan and requested the development partner to conduct a feasibility study for building a bridge on the river Jamuna.
Bangladesh Railway statistics shows that during the liberation war 300 rail bridges, 115-kilometre line, 140 engines and 2,206 cars were damaged.
Following independence rail system remained a neglected mode of transport as it lost strength and glory over time due to lack of proper attention to it by the authorities concerned.
Before liberation, railway was one-third of total transportation infrastructure in the country, but over time road occupied the place as 90 per cent people now depend on road network.
The present government has made a mega investment in rail, and people would reap benefit if proper services could be ensured, Prof Shamsul said, adding that strategic investment even in road had been missing till 1988. As a result infrastructure failed to contribute to the economy.
In 1988, the government constructed some big bridges including those on the outskirts of Dhaka, widened roads connecting Dhaka and its downtown areas.
Rokeya Sarani, Pragati Sarani, Bijoy Sarani, Mukti Sarani, Panthapath and Buriganga Bridge and Meghna Bridge were among the infrastructures built in 1988.
RHD Chief Engineer Abdus Sabur said they had been expanding on average 515 kilometres paved road annually over the last 15 years.
According to sources in Roads and Highways Department, some 22,428km highways including 3,989km 108 national highways, 4,897km 148 regional highways and 13,541km 708 district roads have been built.
Besides, RHD has constructed 4,297km bridge of different sizes and laid 15,084 culverts. It has also introduced 114 ferries at 42 points.
In 1971 the overall number of bridges and culverts was 4,291, which stood at 13,869 in 2009, and 18,258 in 2019, according to the reports of the government agency.
During the period, the road network was 3,865km which was extended to 20,799km in 2001 and 21,677km in 2020.
Two large bridges—Testa Barrage and Bangabandhu Multi-Purpose Bridge, the largest 4.8km bridge—were opened in 1998 and are considered as the high-end infrastructures since Bangladesh’s independence.
Hardinge Bridge, the largest 1.8km rail bridge constructed in 1915, is regarded as the only large setup during pre-liberation period.
RHD officials confirmed that they are implementing more than 200 road projects for either construction or renovation every year.
As per the report of Roads and Highways Department, in last 10 years till 2019 842 bridges have been built while 3,546 culverts laid and 373km four-lane highways upgraded.
Among the mega infrastructures the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, the largest 6.15km road-rail bridge across the Padma River and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, well-known as Karnaphuli Tunner, an underwater 3.32km expressway under the Karnaphuli River, are the iconic structures under construction outside the capital.
In the capital, the first-ever Metrorail with 6 lines, Bus Rapid Transit and a number of expressways and subways and ring roads are among other mega projects in progress.
In the meantime, a number of flyovers including the Mayor Mohammad Hanif flyover, Khilgaon, Mohakhali, Moghbazar-Mouchak flyovers were also built over the last 20 years in the capital but they all fall short to meet public demand.
BUET Professor Md Hadiuzzaman, also a transport expert, said all the structures were built without taking future demand into consideration. They came into being to provide immediate solution to acute problems.
Bangladesh, however, can draw attention of global investors in its infrastructure sector as with other sectors, he suggested, adding that, “People will get benefits of all development activities if they are carried out with a vision.”
In this regard, Prof Shamsul Haque opined that if the government takes any wrong decision this time, it will cause people to suffer in the long run.
“We need an ideal development, not a reactive one. The government should emphasise the importance of all three modes of transportation -- road, rail and water,” he said.
“And we need to make sure that today’s structure need not be demolished within a short span of time.”
