The SASEC Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Investment Project, which aims to expand the two-lane Dhaka-Sylhet highway into a six-lane roadway, faces significant delays due to challenges in land acquisition.

Contractors have been unable to commence full-scale work as the land acquisition process remains incomplete, especially in the Sylhet and Habiganj districts, where progress has been minimal. The project requires the acquisition of 1,033 acres along the 209 km route.

Project Director AK Mohammad Fazlul Karim said, “All 13 project contracts have been initiated, but land acquisition remains a roadblock. Of the 66 land acquisition cases, only eight have been resolved, with 58 still pending. In a recent meeting chaired by the secretary of road transport, we discussed these issues with deputy commissioners, and we are hopeful this will lead to some progress. Currently, land acquisition and utility shifting are the biggest challenges.”

The delay in acquiring land has also prevented utility services from being relocated in key areas, potentially impacting the project’s timeline.

Project progress at 12% over two years

The project office reports that land acquisition has shown some progress in Narayanganj, where two out of four cases have been resolved. In Brahmanbaria, one out of three cases has been completed. However, the situation in Sylhet and Habiganj remains critical, with no land yet acquired in Sylhet and only one out of 30 cases completed in Habiganj.

Despite these setbacks, contractors have commenced work on bridge and culvert construction, which can proceed in areas where minimal land acquisition is needed. Additionally, embankment work has begun in sections of Dhaka, Narsingdi and Brahmanbaria. By September, physical progress had reached 12%.
Project timeline may extend

According to Project Director Fazlul Karim, the project timeline will likely need extension. “We have not even secured the necessary land yet, and it could take another year. Without land, contractors cannot proceed, impacting the entire project schedule.” Under the project’s framework, deputy commissioners are responsible for land acquisition, with project funds provided to facilitate the process. However, delays in acquiring land directly affect the project’s timeline and costs.

The 209 km Dhaka-Sylhet corridor, funded jointly by the Bangladesh government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was originally slated for completion between January 2021 and December 2026. The government is contributing Tk3,673 crore, while ADB is providing Tk13,244 crore in loans, bringing the total project cost to approximately Tk16,918 crore.
Priority infrastructure, not a political project

Md Hadiuzzaman, a transport expert and professor at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, told the Daily Sun, “Land acquisition and infrastructure construction should not proceed simultaneously in civil infrastructure projects, especially in Bangladesh. We need a separate project to acquire land beforehand. Without timely land acquisition, construction delays lead to cost overruns. Acquiring land first would help expedite the project.”

Officials have confirmed that the project is a national priority based on comprehensive feasibility and economic studies, adding that it is not politically driven. While some foreign-funded projects have been reprioritised to cut costs, this one remains unchanged due to its essential status.

In addition to road expansion, the project includes 66 bridges, 305 culverts, eight railway overpasses, 26 footbridges, 37 U-turns and eight roundabouts. The highway will consist of a main four-lane carriageway measuring 7.3 metres, along with a 5.5-metre service lane on each side.