In a move that would give a fillip to cross-border trade and commerce, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has reportedly approved BDT 2,473 crore Cross-Border Road Network Improvement Project to boost regional connectivity, at a meeting held recently.
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“The project has been taken up keeping in mind the Motor Vehicle Agreement signed by India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, which will allow seamless movement of people and cargo among the four countries,” said a Planning Ministry official, adding, “Bangladesh is situated in the middle of the Asian Highway, and the road network under the project will play an important role in increasing trade and communication with India, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan.”
The official further maintained that roads and small bridges used for establishing regional connectivity were inadequate, and the customs and border management were not in a good shape either.
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75 per cent of the project, which is expected to be completed in 2022, will reportedly be borne by Japan, under which 17 bridges, seven culverts and two load control stations will be built.
Chaired by Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, the ECNEC meeting also approved eight more projects, which would require a total of BDT 3,626 crore, one of which is the Bangladesh Economic Zones Development Project that has been revised to BDT 905 crore from the original estimate of BDT 82 crore.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
