Tk 16.27b projects get time extension

A total of 14 bridges near completion, most culvert construction already finished

OUR CORRESPONDENT | Published: May 05, 2026 22:54:58

Highway development works continue in Sunamganj and in Habiganj districts to connect them to Dhaka. — FE Photo

SYLHET, May 05: The deadline for two major regional highway development projects connecting Sunamganj and Habiganj with a Dhaka highway has been extended amid slow progress. Successful completion of the works will reduce the distance of the capital with Sunamganj by about 65 km and time required for travel to four-five hours from the current eight hours.
As part of the projects, a total of 37 kilometres of regional highway and 19 bridges will be built from Derai in Sunamganj to Ajmiriganj in Habiganj.
ASM Nazmul Huda, additional chief engineer, Sylhet region Roads and Highways Department (RHD), said the project work is being implemented through the two major development projects at a total cost of Tk 16.27 billion.
Among them, the 22.75 km Madanpur-Derai-Shalla-Jolsuka-Ajmiriganj road is being constructed at a cost of about Tk 6.28 billion.
Although the project was approved at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 31, 2021, the works started on June 22, 2023. Recently, the deadline to complete the works - currently at 57 per cent - has been extended to December 31, 2027.
Meanwhile, ECNEC approved the other project -- costing around Tk 9.98 billion -- on July 1, 2019, but it started about two years later on January 14, 2021. So far, 72.23 per cent works for the 15.80 km road has been completed.
The authorities extended the deadline till June 30, 2026.
Locals and RHD sources said although the works were supposed reach
completion by June 2026, it slowed down due to the flood-affected areas of the haor region and price increase of construction materials.
Residents of Shalla Upazila said most of the road works are visible by now and the people of Derai-Shalla will have many benefits once the projects are completed.
Zamil Chowdhury, senior vice president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said, "We request that the works are completed soon and their quality is ensured." Stating that the completion of the projects will save time, he noted that the roads will be "scenic" in the haor area.
Alleging that the quality of work in the project has been low and there have been the use of substandard materials, he added that the authorities should look into the irregularities.
Works can be continued for four to five months in a year in the haor area, which was the reason behind the delay in the start of
work, according to an official concerned. "Although the work was
scheduled to be completed by June 2026, now we expect it to be finish by 2027," the official also said.
Works for 14 bridges are at the final stage as of yet and most of the culverts have been completed.
The number of cross drains has been increased for faster recession of flood waters from India's
Meghalaya and the unavailability of construction materials resulted into the sluggish pace of works, locals said.
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