PM inaugurates 23 bridges in Dhaka-Tangail highway

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated 23 bridges on the Dhaka-Tangail highway through a video conference from Ganabhaban on Tuesday.

She conducted the conference at 4:30pm, informed Amimul Ehsan, executive engineer of Tangail Road Division.

Around 80% of road construction for a 70km stretch from Elenga in Tangail, to Bhogra in Gazipur, has been completed. Authorities are hopeful commuters will be able to start using the bridges before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

Both sides of the highway will be cleared of cattle markets to ease the commute of homebound people, said the district police. A large number of law enforcers will be deployed to keep the situation under control.

During the last few years, Eid holidaymakers from 23 districts, including North Bengal, have been suffering while using the Dhaka-Tangail highway due to ongoing construction work in the four lanes of the highway.

From Kalihati, Tangail to Bhogra, Gazipur, almost 70km of the road was clogged with ditches and other obstructions. A five-hour long journey would take 10 hours to complete.

However, with the completion of the bridges, and with strict control of the cattle markets beside the highway, the holidaymakers will have a much easier journey, said drivers and commuters alike.

Speaking on this topic, Executive Engineer of Tangail Road Division Amimul Islam told Dhaka Tribune: "With the prime minister's inauguration of 23 bridges today, holidaymakers will have a hassle-free journey back home.

"Three bridges on the highway are still under-construction," he said. "But we are hopeful they will be completed soon. The primary work of the four lanes is set to be completed by December."

Ahaduzzaman Mia, additional superintendent of Tangail police (crime), said authorities have been instructed to not set cattle markets beside the highway. "A large number of police will also be deployed so people can go back home safely," he said.