A meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-Escap) working group begins tomorrow in Bangkok where an additional foreign secretary will represent the country.

However, there was no sign of efforts as of yet to have the deadline extended at the working group meeting, sources said.

On expiry of the deadline, the signatory countries will acquire the authority to decide the future course of actions concerning the Asian Highway while Bangladesh will remain only an observer if it does not sign the agreement, the experts said.

They said Dhaka should pursue the extension of the deadline or change in the route, none of which depends any longer on the Escap.

"They now rather depend on the member countries," said Dr Rahmatullah, former director (transport) of Escap.

From the next meetings, the signatory countries will start negotiation on standardisation of the roads, safety measures, movement of traffic, border crossing and making the giant highway operative, he said.

"As Bangladesh decided not to sign the agreement, it would not have any right to place any proposal or opinion on these issues," he said.

A high official at the Ministry of Communications said Bangladesh could have rather signed the agreement first and then lobbied other countries for the change of route instead of staying completely outside the network.

It would not be wise to be isolated from such an international forum in the present-day world, he said, adding that Dhaka will face difficulties getting into the network after the deadline is expired as the member countries will then proceed for further progress.

Dhaka's joining the Asian Highway is necessary for boosting Bangladesh's "look east" foreign policy, said a high official at the foreign ministry. This would strengthen the government in forging cooperation and gaining economic benefit, he pointed out.

As Bangladesh has decided not to join the network, it would also lose support of the donor agencies in developing road network, he added.

Five of 32 Asian countries have not yet agreed to sign the agreement. The four other countries are North Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and Turkmenistan.

The Philippines is an island country and does not need to join the highway; Singapore has reservations about road communications with Malaysia; and Turkmenistan is a central Asian country that might have conflicts with the neighbouring states. North Korea did not sign the agreement as it is politically isolated from the world, the experts said, adding that Bangladesh does not have any valid reason to stay out of the network.

Rahmatulah observed that the deadline for signing the agreement may be extended if Bangladesh can persuade the other member states vigorously.

On change of the route, he said Dhaka should lobby the countries concerned for this. Myanmar is the first country as it is directly involved with the cherished change.

India and Thailand are also indirectly involved with the route Bangladesh wants to include into the network. If the proposed Dhaka-Yangon Highway is declared as part of the Asian Highway, maximum traffic from Thailand will go through this route reducing the pressure on India. So, India and Thailand also should be requested for their consent to the change, he observed.

Former commerce minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said, "If there is a window in the Asian Highway with Myanmar, the government should consider signing the agreement."