Considering the importance of the country’s business and supply system, it is proposed to allocate Tk 80 thousand 498 crore for the development of communication infrastructure in the next financial year 2024-25.
In the financial year 2023-24, the amount allocated to this sector was 85 thousand 191 crores This allocation for the development sector of communication infrastructure has decreased by Tk 4 thousand 693 crore compared to the last financial year.
Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali proposed this in the budget announcement in the National Parliament on Thursday (June 6) afternoon
Proposing the budget, the finance minister said in the parliament, considering the importance of the country’s trade and supply system, I propose to allocate Tk 80 thousand 498 crore for the development of communication infrastructure in the next financial year 2024-25. In the current financial year 2023-24, there was an allocation of 85 thousand 191 crores in this sector.
The minister said that 1,439 bridges have been constructed or reconstructed on various highways and 851.62 kilometers of national highways have been widened to build a modern and sustainable highway network. Besides, there are plans to construct 12 expressways and 10 elevated expressways by 2041.
He said that due to the connection of the south-western region with other regions of the country, especially the north-central region, a lot of activity has been created in the southern region. Besides, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel built under the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong city has been opened for traffic. The construction work of several elevated expressways is ongoing with the aim of decongesting traffic in Dhaka city. The third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is being opened for public use at the earliest and the runways and taxiways of Cox’s Bazar Airport and Osmani International Airport have been improved and lengthened.
He also said that activities have started on a limited basis at Payara, the third seaport of the country. At present, ships with a draft of 10.5 meters and a capacity of 40-50 thousand metric tons are moving in this port. Besides, the activities of Matarbari Deep Sea Port Development Project are progressing rapidly.
The minister said that the 64.75 km broad gauge railway line from Khulna to Mongla seaport has been inaugurated after the construction work. It will establish the connection of Mongla seaport with the rail link of Padma bridge under the existing Bangladesh railway network and will help to establish communication with the South-western region and increase the import-export activities of Mongla seaport. Besides, 72 km from Akhaura to Laksam section. Construction of dual line will be completed. With the new rail link from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar already in place, the section is likely to serve as a major part of the Trans-Asian Railway and sub-regional corridor.
The minister said that about 95 percent of the country’s total import and export is completed through Chittagong port and Mongla port. As a result of timely measures taken by the government, the volume of ship arrivals and cargo handling at the ports has been continuously increasing since the fiscal year 2009-10. At the same time, the infrastructure development of the port is also progressing. In last 15 years Chittagong port water area has been increased 7 times and brought under digital tidal network.
580,000 square meter yards have been constructed over the past decade to increase the port’s capacity, increasing the port’s container capacity to 55,000 TEUs. Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS) has been introduced along with modernization of cargo handling operations of Mongla port. Besides, the country’s third seaport, Pira, has started operations on a limited scale. At present, ships with a capacity of 40-50 thousand metric tons with a draft of 10.5 meters are moving in this port. Besides, the activities of Matarbari deep sea port development project are progressing rapidly.
The minister also said that 26 river ports have been declared in the last 15 years in the inland waterways to reduce pressure on roads and railways and ensure safe and smooth transportation of passengers and goods by sea. Considering the difficulties of the people in the river areas of the country, with the aim of providing landing facilities at various ghats, 187 new pontoons have been installed, after repairing medium and large type (docking) pontoons, a total of 472 pontoons of various sizes have been installed at launch ghats and river ports. As a result, the movement of passengers and goods has become safer and easier.
NS/MKR
