WEB DESK
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Bangladesh signed the agreement for USD 400 million in loan for constructing the Dhaka-Sylhet highway to improve mobility, road safety and regional trade in the north east economic corridor in Bangladesh.
It is the first tranche of the USD 1.78 billion financing facility approved by ADB for the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Dhaka-Sylhet Road investment project.
It will be utilised for widening of about 210 kilometres of Dhaka-Sylhet road from 2-lane to 4 lane highway among other activities.
ADB Country Director Mohan Parkash said that the project will open up opportunities for the entire north-east region of Bangladesh and act as a strategic corridor for subregional, regional and international trade.
He said that the project which is a part of the Asian Highway network, will connect upcoming economic zones in the Sylhet region.
The Dhaka–Sylhet corridor, once completed, will support a new trade route that connects Chattogram port with India’s northeastern states through the three land ports of Akhaura, Sheola, and Tamabil, and onwards to Bhutan and Myanmar.
The project is the main part of Road Corridor No. 5 under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program.