JS panel backs two Asian Highway routes amid BNP opposition
Thursday, 3 September 2009
A parliamentary watchdog has finally given backing to two of the proposed routes for the Asian Highway Network (AHN) through Bangladesh, amid continued opposition from the BNP, reports bdnews24.com.
The parliamentary standing committee on communications suggested Wednesday that the government should select one of the two routes, which will enter from India and re-enter India, for Bangladesh's AHN link.
Nazrul Islam Manju, the lone BNP MP of the 10-member parliamentary panel, gave note of dissent on the recommendations terming it "against national interests."
Instead, he stressed that the highway should cross Bangladesh and exit through Myanmar via its Teknaf point.
"We have recommended choosing Benapole-Dhaka-Tamabil or Banglabandha-Hatikumrul-Dhaka-Tamabil routes for the Asian highway," Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the standing committee chairman, told journalists after the meeting at parliament building.
He said the parliamentary panel suggested the routes considering Bangladesh's weight of bilateral trade with India.
"I have given note of dissent on the recommendations as the two routes do not meet the ESCAP criteria for the Asian highway," Nazrul Islam Manju told the news agency after the meeting.
"The recommendations are against national interests," he said.
Manju said as per the ESCAP conditions the highway should connect a capital with another, but none of the two routes would connect Bangladesh with the Indian capital.
Besides, the highway should also connect ports, railway links and have trade and tourism activities.
"If it passes through Tamabil, a hilly region, it will not meet the ESCAP criteria," said Manju.
"We are going to construct deep sea port in Kutubdia (Chittagong). If the AHN bypasses Chittagong, it will not bring any benefit to the nation."
The BNP MP said he told the meeting that the government must hold discussion in parliament to decide the routes for securing national interests.
The ruling Awami League and the BNP are sharply divided over the selection of the routes of the Asian Highway which will ultimately connect Asia with Europe.
The parliamentary standing committee on communications suggested Wednesday that the government should select one of the two routes, which will enter from India and re-enter India, for Bangladesh's AHN link.
Nazrul Islam Manju, the lone BNP MP of the 10-member parliamentary panel, gave note of dissent on the recommendations terming it "against national interests."
Instead, he stressed that the highway should cross Bangladesh and exit through Myanmar via its Teknaf point.
"We have recommended choosing Benapole-Dhaka-Tamabil or Banglabandha-Hatikumrul-Dhaka-Tamabil routes for the Asian highway," Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the standing committee chairman, told journalists after the meeting at parliament building.
He said the parliamentary panel suggested the routes considering Bangladesh's weight of bilateral trade with India.
"I have given note of dissent on the recommendations as the two routes do not meet the ESCAP criteria for the Asian highway," Nazrul Islam Manju told the news agency after the meeting.
"The recommendations are against national interests," he said.
Manju said as per the ESCAP conditions the highway should connect a capital with another, but none of the two routes would connect Bangladesh with the Indian capital.
Besides, the highway should also connect ports, railway links and have trade and tourism activities.
"If it passes through Tamabil, a hilly region, it will not meet the ESCAP criteria," said Manju.
"We are going to construct deep sea port in Kutubdia (Chittagong). If the AHN bypasses Chittagong, it will not bring any benefit to the nation."
The BNP MP said he told the meeting that the government must hold discussion in parliament to decide the routes for securing national interests.
The ruling Awami League and the BNP are sharply divided over the selection of the routes of the Asian Highway which will ultimately connect Asia with Europe.