Construction of Dhaka-Ctg elevated expressway stressed

Speakers at a roundtable have stressed the need for constructing the Dhaka-Chattogram elevated expressway which will help in hiking the country's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 2 per cent.

The elevated expressway would also reduce the cost and time for both import and export operations, and make them cost-effective and competitive in the international market.

Business leaders made the call at a roundtable discussion organised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - Bangladesh on "Investment for Infrastructure Development" held at a hotel in the capital on Saturday.

Planning Minister MA Mannan spoke at the roundtable as the chief guest. ICC Bangladesh president Mahbubur Rahman moderated the roundtable. BUET Professor Dr Md Shamsul Hoque presented the keynote paper.

The speakers pointed out that like all other developing countries, investment in infrastructures should be at least 6 to 7 per cent. They said the Dhaka-Chattogram elevated expressway would also boost regional connectivity.

Planning Minister MA Mannan acknowledged the demand of the businesses regarding the Dhaka-Chattogram elevated expressway and assured them that he would try to forward this to the higher authority.

He mentioned that the Dhaka-Chattogram railway is under construction for double-track, and also laid emphasis on the circular road surrounding Dhaka City.

Keynote speaker Dr Md Shamsul Hoque, director of Accident Research Institute (ARI) and professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BUET in his keynote speech emphasised continuously increasing the quality of infrastructure, with the hallmark attribute of uninterrupted, sustained high-speed mobility.

ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman said, with the opening up of Padma Bridge, and the completion of a 55-kilometre elevated expressway from Gazipur connecting the northwestern region of the country to Chattogram, movement of traffic is expected to increase manifold.

But, according to experts, the existing four-lane highway will not be able to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles.

He said the Dhaka-Chattogram Expressway is expected to create effective and smooth connectivity across the country as well as Nepal, Bhutan, the northeastern region of India and the Asian Highway.

The panel speakers of the roundtable were Abul Kalam Azad, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister; Mir Nasir Hossain, ICC Bangladesh executive board member, former FBCCI president & managing director, Mir Akhter Hossain Limited; Syed Ersahd Ahmed, president, American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) country manager and managing director, Expeditors (Bangladesh) Ltd.; AK Azad, vice president, ICC Bangladesh & managing director, Ha-Meem Group and Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, former chief economist, Bangladesh Bank, former DG, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and executive director, Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM).

The Round table were also attended by ABM Sertajur Rahman, additional project director (Superintending Engineer); Md Sameer Sattar, president, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mahbubul Alam, president, The Chattogram Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman and CEO, Shohagpur Textile Mills Limited; Kutubuddin Ahmed, chairman, Envoy Garments Limited; Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), managing director, Evince Group; Md Fazlul Hoque, managing director, Plummy Fashions Limited; Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali, chairman, ICC Bangladesh Banking Commission and vice chairman, BIAC; Abul Kasem Khan, managing director, AK Khan Telecom Ltd.; Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO, Mutual Trust Bank Limited; Humaira Azam, managing director and CEO, Trust Bank Limited; Md Abdul Haque, chief executive officer, Eastland Insurance Company Limited; Mohammad Shamsul Islam, managing director, National Housing Finance and Investments Limited; Matiur Rahman, chairman and managing director, Uttara Group of Companies and ICC Bangladesh Secretary General Ataur Rahman.