Funding woes stall strategic Bhanga–Jashore-Benapole highway project

A proposed Tk11,000 crore project to upgrade the 130-kilometre Bhanga–Jashore–Benapole highway into a four-lane road has remained stalled due to a funding shortfall, despite being considered a priority infrastructure project following the opening of the Padma Bridge.

Officials could not say when construction would begin, although discussions with the Indian government over financing are continuing.

A senior Roads and Highways Department (RHD) official, requesting anonymity, said Bangladesh had sought $1 billion in financing from India, while India had so far pledged Tk1,259 crore. "Work will begin as soon as the financing is confirmed," the official said. The Padma Bridge has significantly improved connectivity between Dhaka and the country's southwest, but the lack of a four-lane highway between Bhanga and Benapole forces most vehicles to travel via Khulna, increasing the journey by about 86 kilometres.

Transport operators said upgrading the highway would reduce travel time and transport costs by providing a direct route between Dhaka and Benapole Land Port, the country’s largest land port. According to RHD sources, the Development Project Proposal (DPP) for the project has already been completed. The proposed highway includes five flyovers and two bypasses in the Narail and Jashore sections.

The department began land acquisition preparations in 2020, requesting estimates from the deputy commissioners of Faridpur, Gopalganj, Narail and Jashore for land acquisition and compensation costs.

Sirajul Islam, district kanungo of the Narail Deputy Commissioner's Office, said the estimated cost of acquiring 274 acres of land across 32 mouzas in Narail alone was nearly Tk2,000 crore, and the proposal was submitted to the government in December 2020. He said the district administration issued the required no-objection certificate in November 2021 after a request from the RHD, but no visible progress has been made since then. Transport experts and RHD officials said the project would reduce the Dhaka–Benapole distance to around 200 kilometres, nearly 86 kilometres shorter than the existing route through Khulna. The shorter route would also reduce the Dhaka–Kolkata distance to about 284 kilometres, making cross-border travel faster and more efficient.

Once completed, travel time between Dhaka and Benapole is expected to fall to three to three-and-a-half hours, while the journey from Benapole to Kolkata could take four to five hours. The project is also expected to improve connectivity with Nawapara industrial area, Mongla Port, Satkhira, and other districts in the southwest. The existing Bhanga–Jashore–Benapole highway is only 18 to 24 feet wide, while several ageing bridges along the route are just 10 to 14 feet wide, limiting the movement of heavy vehicles.

Truck driver Tipu Sultan said transport operators currently use the longer Khulna route, covering about 286 kilometres, because of the narrow road and weak bridges. "If the highway is upgraded to four lanes, the distance to Dhaka will be reduced to 200 kilometres, saving around 86 kilometres," he said.

Another truck driver, Md Alim, said many transport operators avoid the existing highway because of safety concerns and instead use the longer route through Khulna. Narail RHD Executive Engineer Md Ashrafulzzaman said the project had become increasingly important after the opening of the Padma Bridge. "The government considers the project a priority, and it remains under active consideration," he said. He said traffic on the route has increased significantly since the Padma Bridge opened, and the proposed four-lane highway would strengthen trade, reduce transport costs and improve regional connectivity with India's border.