Sylhet–Dhaka Road and Rail Upgrade Plan, Work to Begin Soon

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced major plans to improve road and rail connectivity between Sylhet and Dhaka. Speaking at a civic gathering organized by Sylhet City Corporation at the city hall on Saturday afternoon, he outlined the government’s initiatives for upgrading the Sylhet-Dhaka highway and railway network.

The prime minister recalled that during his pre-election visit to Sylhet, he pointed out the disparity in travel time—while it takes around nine and a half hours to travel from Sylhet to London by air, the road journey from Sylhet to Dhaka can take nearly 10 hours. Taking this reality into account, the government has undertaken plans to upgrade the Sylhet-Dhaka highway.

He said the highway expansion project had been delayed due to 11 complications related to land acquisition. Those issues have now been resolved, and work on the project is expected to begin soon. Although the project will take time to complete, it is expected to significantly reduce public suffering once finished.

Emphasizing sustainable transport, the prime minister also highlighted the importance of improving rail connectivity. He noted that widening roads alone would increase the number of vehicles, leading to more congestion and loss of agricultural land. Therefore, the government plans to upgrade the Dhaka-Sylhet railway into a double-track line.

Addressing the healthcare sector, he announced that a long-abandoned 200-bed hospital in Sylhet will be made operational soon. Additionally, steps are being taken to increase the capacity of Osmani Medical College Hospital. The government also plans to recruit 100,000 healthcare workers nationwide, 80 percent of whom will be women. These workers will help raise awareness about health and nutrition at the grassroots level.

The prime minister said initiatives are underway to reopen closed factories, including the possibility of transferring them to the private sector to boost employment. Efforts are also being made to attract foreign investment.

He further stated that steps are being taken to quickly operationalize the existing IT park in Sylhet to create job opportunities for young people. At the same time, vocational training centers across the country are being modernized.

Referring to the city’s waterlogging problems, he said that many areas suffer during rainfall due to poor drainage, while groundwater levels are also declining. To address this, a canal excavation program has been undertaken to store rainwater and reduce waterlogging.

Before attending the event, the prime minister laid the foundation stone for a major flood and waterlogging mitigation project in the Chandnighat area of the city. He expressed hope that the project would significantly ease waterlogging in Sylhet.

Highlighting environmental concerns, he stressed the need for greater public awareness to protect rivers from plastic pollution. Educational institutions, he said, should play a leading role in this effort.

The prime minister also noted that the government has begun implementing its election promises, including the introduction of family cards and farmer cards, as well as launching the “Notun Kuri Sports” program to encourage children’s participation in sports.

The event was presided over by Sylhet City Corporation Chief Abdul Qaiyum Chowdhury. Among others, Industries and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Humayun Kabir, Whip GK Gous, and Chief Executive Officer Rezai Raffin Sarkar also spoke at the event.

EN/SA