BD to remain isolated if not linked with Asian Highway: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday said Bangladesh would remain isolated from rest of the world without being linked with the proposed Asian Highway.
Replying to both main and supplementary questions raised by the lawmakers in the House during the Prime Minister’s question-answer session, she made it clear that her government doesn’t believe the country’s sovereignty and security would be endangered if Bangladesh is connected with the proposed Asian Highway.
The Prime Minister said the Asian Highway would have three components including two international roads in Bangladesh part, which are now awaiting approval of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Asian Highway-1 (AH-1) would be constructed on the Benapole-Jessore- Bhanga-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Sylhet-Tamabil route and AH-2 on the Bangalabandha- Hatikamrul-Tangail-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Sylhet-Tamabil route, she said adding that a regional route of the highway would be on the Mongla-Khlulna-Jessore-Pakshi- Hatikamrul-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Comilla-Chittagong-Cox’s bazar- Teknaf route.
In response to the main question from ruling party lawmaker Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury (Sylhet-3), the Prime Minister said the UN-ESCAP proposed Bangladesh to get connected with the Asian Highway under a plan to build a developed road link with Asia as well as Europe.
But, the Prime Minister said, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government turned down the proposal on the plea that the highway would give corridor to India.
She informed the House about her government’s decision taken in principle to get connected with the highway and said the proposal has already been approved in the cabinet and sent to the UN-ESCAP for inter-governmental agreement.
Replying to a supplementary from Rashed Khan Menon, the Prime Minister said the Asian Highway, if seen in totality, would not only connect two parts of India, but also become an international road network to establish an easy communication system within Asia and with Europe.
She said the regional road on the Mongla-Khlulna-Jessore-Pakshi-Hatikamrul- Dhaka-Kanchpur-Comilla-Chittagong-Cox’s bazar-Teknaf route might be turned into an international one if Myanmar agrees to construct its part of the highway as the same.
Sheikh Hasina endorsed a view of Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Huq that the Asian Highway and the transit to India would not be detrimental to the country if national interests are given priority while taking decisions in this regard.
Photo Courtesy: Focus Bangla

Courtesy of BSS, Sangsad Bhaban