Bangladesh - Myanmar road
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
THE government deserves credit for the signing of an agreement with Myanmar to establish a direct road link between the two countries. The agreement, once implemented in a phased manner, will help link Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh with Taungbro in Myanmar. But it is furthermore hoped that the government of Myanmar would do the needful to extend the road link all the way up to Yangon, which will require a 110km-link road to be built on their side. The direct road link between the neighbouring countries will lead to improved economic, social and cultural ties between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Better connectivity will undoubtedly lead to greater trade and commerce between the countries, which will, in turn, lead to faster and more equitable growth of both the economies. More importantly, however, better connectivity will also result in increased people-to-people contacts, which will help to ensure a more peaceful and stable region.
Establishing direct road links with Myanmar is significantly the first step towards better regional connectivity. It will open up the possibility of direct road links with countries such as Thailand and Singapore in south-east Asia, and with the Kunming province of China. The signing of the agreement also underscores our government's preference for the route through Myanmar to become part of the proposed Asian Highway, a United Nations-sponsored road project that seeks to connect 32 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. So the governments of both Bangladesh and Myanmar should do all that is necessary to begin and complete construction of the proposed road within a short period of time.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka
Better connectivity will undoubtedly lead to greater trade and commerce between the countries, which will, in turn, lead to faster and more equitable growth of both the economies. More importantly, however, better connectivity will also result in increased people-to-people contacts, which will help to ensure a more peaceful and stable region.
Establishing direct road links with Myanmar is significantly the first step towards better regional connectivity. It will open up the possibility of direct road links with countries such as Thailand and Singapore in south-east Asia, and with the Kunming province of China. The signing of the agreement also underscores our government's preference for the route through Myanmar to become part of the proposed Asian Highway, a United Nations-sponsored road project that seeks to connect 32 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. So the governments of both Bangladesh and Myanmar should do all that is necessary to begin and complete construction of the proposed road within a short period of time.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka