Alternative route bid abandoned

Staff Correspondent

Abandoning the country's previously proposed routes, the government decided to connect Bangladesh to the Asian Highway Network (AHN) accepting routes proposed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-Escap).

"We decided to connect Bangladesh to the Asian Highway Network for the welfare of the country," Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain told reporters after a meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Officials of the communications, foreign, home, defence, and finance ministries attended the meeting.

"If we could be connected to the Asian Highway Network, our communication and trade with Asian countries will improve," said the minister, adding, "It would also boost our tourism industry."

He said the previous governments did not look at the best interest of the country and did not link the country with the communication network. In the meantime the country faced losses, he added.

He said a summary regarding the Asian Highway would be placed before the next cabinet meeting for the government's approval. "Our government's decision will be conveyed to the UN-ESCAP so that Bangladesh can be connected by signing the agreement as per the routes proposed by the UN-Escap."

The UN-Escap drafted an Intergovernmental Agreement on the AHN for the development of Asian Highways, which include three routes in Bangladesh.

The proposed routes are Benapole-Jessore-Kanchpur-Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil (AH1), Banglabandha-Hatikamrul-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Sylhet-Tamabil (AH2) and Dhaka-Kanchpur-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar-Teknaf-Myanmar border (AH-41). The third route is a sub-regional one.

AHN, a proposed network of 1,41,000km of standard roadways crisscrossing Asian countries and linking them with Europe, was conceived in 1959 with an aim to promote development of international road transport in the continent.

Bangladesh failed to become a member of the network as its successive governments failed to understand the highway's immense potential and importance. The main reason behind Dhaka's reluctance to join the Asian Highway club is its reservations about giving transit to India.

Bangladesh had said the first two routes proposed by the UN-Escap enter Bangladesh from India and exits to India. Bangladesh has been pressing for Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar-Teknaf route. A number of moves in this regard proved futile as Dhaka failed to convince UN-Escap.

Asked whether the country would have to face any security threats from neighbouring countries, the communications minister ruled out the possibility.

The Asian Highway, also known as the Great Asian Highway, is a cooperative project among countries in Asia and Europe and the UN-Escap for improving the highway systems in Asia.

It is one of the three pillars of Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development (ALTID) project endorsed by the Escap commission at its 48th session in 1992. The ALTID is comprised of Asian Highway, Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) and facilitation of land transport projects.

Agreements have so far been signed by 32 countries to allow the highway to cross the continent and reach Europe. A significant part of the funding comes from the larger more advanced nations as well as international agencies such as the Asian Development Bank. The project is scheduled for completion in 2010.

At least 15 countries, including Pakistan became founding members by signing the agreement when the idea was conceived in 1959. In 1971, Bangladesh automatically became a founding member but its status was later lowered to observer after it missed the December, 2005 deadline for signing the agreement.