The first 18 kilometres of the Dhaka Bypass Expressway have been inaugurated in Gazipur’s Bhogra area, marking a key development in efforts to ease congestion around the capital.
Adviser for Road Transport and Bridges Ministry and Railways Ministry Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan inaugurated the part of the expressway at 11:00 am on Sunday (Aug 24).
Speaking at the ceremony, the adviser stressed the need to reduce Bangladesh’s over-reliance on roads by expanding the use of alternative transport modes such as rail, waterways, and air.
He also raised concerns about the high costs of road construction compared with neighbouring countries, attributing part of the problem to corruption in the sector.
“If corruption is reduced and our engineers take responsibility, it would be possible to cut road construction costs by 20 to 30 percent,” he said.
The adviser added that bypasses like the Dhaka project are vital to relieve traffic congestion in major cities. He urged the adoption of modern technology and improved standards to ensure durability, pointing out that frequent road damage and repairs have long been a burden.
Referring to foreign contractors, particularly from China, he questioned why Bangladesh’s own engineers could not take the lead in building roads and railways.
“How long will we depend on outsiders? What is the benefit of having so many engineers if they cannot carry out such projects themselves?” he asked.
He further emphasised the need for integrated transport planning, where road, rail, and waterways are developed together according to suitability. Land acquisition, he noted, is an expensive and lengthy process, and overdependence on roads will only worsen the problem.
“Every day, secretaries come with proposals for land acquisition worth hundreds of crores. At this rate, even burial space will be difficult to find. We must also meet housing and industrial needs,” he said.
The adviser also highlighted public frustration over poor road conditions across the country, particularly in Sylhet, where complaints about travel difficulties are frequent. He urged engineers to prove their capacity by independently designing and completing infrastructure projects such as roads, power plants, and transmission lines, thereby reducing dependence on foreign expertise.
Dr Mohammad Najmul Karim Khan, Police Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan, Nafisa Arefin, Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur, and officials and staff from the relevant ministries attended the event.
SMS/
