The government has decided to connect the island district of Bhola by road with Barisal and Dhaka.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday, presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the officials concerned to undertake a project to construct a highway along the Rahmatpur-Hizla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route, according to Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The deputy press secretary noted that three distinct proposals were discussed at the meeting, with the Rahmatpur-Hizla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route ultimately being finalized.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of developing an integrated road network to overcome geographical barriers, ensure uninterrupted connectivity, and expand opportunities for trade and economic activities.

He instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the initiative to bring Bhola into the national road network.

Project officials stated that the proposed route will require widening existing roads, constructing new road sections in certain areas, and building three small bridges.

They added that the project's feasibility study will be evaluated expeditiously to ensure swift implementation.

The new road will significantly reduce travel times and transportation costs between Bhola, Barisal, Dhaka, and other parts of the country.

As Bhola is completely surrounded by rivers, its residents have long depended on waterways for transportation. The new road connection is set to reduce this reliance and streamline the movement of both passengers and goods.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Shaikh Rabiul Alam; State Minister for Shipping and the Bridges Division Md Razib Ahsan; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr. Md Shakirul Islam Khan; Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr. Mohammed Ziaul Haque; Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf; and Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Md Moniruzzaman, among others.