Staff correspondent :

Speakers at a roundtable today stressed the need for constructing the Dhaka-Chattogram elevated expressway which will help in reducing cost and time for both import and export operations as well as make it cost effective and competitive in the international market.

They said the elevated expressway would also save the much needed agriculture land.

They came up with such suggestion at a roundtable organized by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – Bangladesh on “Investment for Infrastructure Development” held at a city hotel today.

Planning Minister MA Mannan spoke at the roundtable as the chief guest. ICC Bangladesh president Mahbubur Rahman moderated the roundtable and Prof. Dr. Md. Shamsul Hoque of BUET presented the keynote paper.

The speakers pointed out that like all other developing countries, investment in infrastructures should be at least 6 to 7 percent. They said the Dhaka-Chattogram elevated expressway would also boost regional connectivity.

They also praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for establishing National Logistics Development and Coordination Committee and logistics and infrastructure policy.

Planning Minister MA Mannan said that over the last 10-12 years, the government has taken huge infrastructural works and obviously people are getting the results.

He emphasized to expand the railway sector adding, “We’ll have to upgrade the rail connectivity which is cost-effective.”

He mentioned that the Dhaka-Chattogram railway is under construction for double-track side by side laid emphasis on circular road surrounding the Dhaka City.

However, the Planning Minister acknowledged the demand of the businesses regarding Dhaka-Chattogram elevated expressway and assured that he would try to forward this to the higher authority.

ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman said with the opening up of Padma Bridge, completion of 55 kilometer elevated expressway from Gazipur connecting northwestern region of the country to Chattogram, movement of traffic is expected to increase manifold.

But, according to experts, the existing four-lane highway will not be able to facilitate smooth movement of vehicles.

Mahbubur said economic importance of this route is immense considering Chattogram Port connectivity as an access point to the international market. “It’s also inevitable to consider network with Matarbari economic hub of BIG-B, BCIM and potentials of connecting BIMSTEC & SASEC through Asian Highway,” he added.

He said the Dhaka-Chattogram Expressway is expected to create effective and smooth connectivity across the country as well with Nepal, Bhutan, northeastern region of India and the Asian Highway.

“Our international trade exceeded $100 billion and is expected to grow considering the post LDC export diversification potentials. Government targets $80 billion export by 2024. The evolving economic target requires deep and inclusive connectivity and communication development with far-reaching implications,” added Mahbubur.

By some estimate, he said Bangladesh would require to make investments of well over $100 billion in the course of the next decade to build ports and roads, set up rail lines for management of goods, establish power-generation & distribution capabilities, provide utilities and services to meet the ever-increasing demands of the economy.

Keynote speaker Dr Md. Shamsul Hoque, director, Accident Research Institute (ARI) and Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BUET in his keynote speech emphasized to continuously increase the quality of infrastructure, with the hallmark attribute of uninterrupted, sustained high-speed mobility.

To maintain a higher growth trajectory even after LDC graduation, including double-digit GDP growth and achieving multi-trillion dollar economy, he said Bangladesh needs to develop a balanced multimodal transport infrastructure system based on the three pillars of Rail, River and Road (3R).

The panel speakers of the roundtable were Abul Kalam Azad, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister; Mir Nasir Hossain, ICC Bangladesh executive board member, former FBCCI president & managing director, Mir Akhter Hossain Limited; Syed Ersahd Ahmed, president, American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) & country manager & managing director, Expeditors (Bangladesh) Ltd.; AK Azad, vice president, ICC Bangladesh & managing director, Ha-Meem Group and Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, former chief economist, Bangladesh Bank, former DG, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and executive director, Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM).

The Round table were also attended by ABM Sertajur Rahman, additional project director (Superintending Engineer); Md. Sameer Sattar, president, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mahbubul Alam, president, The Chattogram Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman & CEO, Shohagpur Textile Mills Limited; Kutubuddin Ahmed, chairman, Envoy Garments Limited; Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), managing director, Evince Group; Md. Fazlul Hoque, managing director, Plummy Fashions Limited; Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali, chairman, ICC Bangladesh Banking Commission & vice chairman, BIAC; Abul Kasem Khan, managing director, AK Khan Telecom Ltd.; Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director & CEO, Mutual Trust Bank Limited; Humaira Azam, managing director & CEO, Trust Bank Limited; Md. Abdul Haque, chief executive officer, Eastland Insurance Company Limited; Mohammad Shamsul Islam, managing director, National Housing Finance and Investments Limited; Matiur Rahman, chairman & managing director, Uttara Group of Companies and ICC Bangladesh secretary general Mr. Ataur Rahman.

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