Dhaka-Sylhet Six-Lane Highway Set to Open by June 2029, Boosting Tourism, Connectivity and Trade

Eklas Haque

The Dhaka-Sylhet highway is one of the most important roads in the country. Work is now moving ahead to make it a six lane highway. The government is taking many steps to make road links between Dhaka and the northeastern districts safer, faster and smoother. The physical work of the project is also moving ahead slowly. Officials say they can finish the six lane upgrade by June 2029 if they follow the work plan.

Officials say they are increasing regular monitoring to speed up the work. They are reviewing progress in the field and watching the work of the contractor firms. They also stress quick administrative decisions when needed. In a big project like this, workers cannot build the whole road at once. So they are building it in phases, section by section. In some places they are filling land, in others they are improving the existing structure, and in others they are doing related work. Officials are also working to keep traffic moving normally on the highway during construction.

Professor Dr. Hadiuzzaman of the Civil Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) spoke to Inqilab. He said people have suffered for years in the name of development work on this highway. He said weak law enforcement is increasing disorder on the road. Long distance buses, trucks, battery run auto rickshaws and local vehicles use the road together, and this raises the risk of accidents. He said auto rickshaws have become like an epidemic.

Dr. Hadiuzzaman said the project must finish quickly to solve these problems. This will reduce public suffering. Workers, traders, students and patients will all benefit. A stronger highway will also save time in carrying emergency patients. He said people come from many areas every year to visit Sylhet and nearby places. They come for its hills, tea gardens, rivers, haors and natural beauty. So the project will enrich the tourism sector. He said the country needs a joint effort to solve everything.

The Dhaka-Sylhet highway is very important for the economy, trade, tourism and regional links. It also connects Dhaka with Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and other eastern areas. Many buses, trucks, covered vans, private cars and other vehicles use it every day. So traffic pressure keeps rising, and jams and clogged lanes appear. Road users face trouble every day. During Eid, Puja, the tourist season and national holidays, the pressure grows many times over.

Slow vehicles, overloaded trucks and local traffic often cause long jams in many parts of the road. Markets, shops, factories and homes along the road also affect traffic. Local and long distance vehicles mix together, and some vehicles stop or enter right on the road. All this slows the traffic.

Officials say the biggest change from the six lane highway will be in travel. A wider road will let more vehicles pass at the same time. If vehicles move faster and more smoothly, the travel time between Dhaka and Sylhet may fall. Today, jams, slow vehicles and limited road capacity make trips longer than planned. The six lane road can improve this.

The highway is also a key route for carrying goods. People carry farm products, food items and other goods from the Sylhet region to other parts of the country. Fast road links between Dhaka and Sylhet can create chances to grow trade in the eastern areas.

Mr. Mazharul Islam, a resident of Habiganj, spoke to Inqilab. He said the upgrade will reduce jams and accident risks. He said the six lane project will solve long standing problems of jams, slow speed and poor links. It will make travel to markets, schools, hospitals and workplaces easier. Residents of the districts and upazilas along the highway will benefit. But he said the government must manage the work well and finish it fast.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Mr. Sheikh Rabiul Alam said the highway upgrade is not just a road project. He said it is very important for the economy, trade, tourism and regional links. He said the project will make links between Dhaka and the northeast faster, safer and smoother. He said the government is working to finish the six lane upgrade and open the road to the public by June 2029. He said the physical work is moving ahead. Work on 8 of the project’s 13 packages is going on well. He said the government must take needed steps to speed up the slow sections.