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

The decision was taken at a meeting at Prime Minister’s Office at Tejgaon with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.

In the meeting the Prime Minister has asked the concerned officials to take a project to construct the highway on Rahmatpur-Hizla-Mehendiganj-Bhola route, Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said.

The deputy press secretary said three proposals were discussed at the meeting and the route on Rahmatpur-Hizla-Mehendiganj-Bhola was finalized.

At the meeting, the prime minister stressed developing an integrated road network to overcome geographical barriers, ensure uninterrupted connectivity and expand opportunities for trade and economic activities.

He directed the authorities concerned to expedite the initiative to bring Bhola under the national road network.

Project officials said the proposed route would require widening existing roads, constructing new roads in some parts and building three small bridges.

They said the feasibility study of the project would be assessed expeditiously for quick implementation.

The road will reduce travel time from Bhola to Barisal and Dhaka and other part parts of the country as well as transportation costs.

As Bhola is surrounded by rivers, its people have long relied on waterways for communication. The new road link will reduce this dependence and facilitate the movement of people and goods.

Road Transport and Bridges and Railways and Shipping Minister 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, attended the meeting.