University of Dhaka

Assignment on

Project Report

Course Name: Microeconomics

Course Code: 109

Submitted to submitted by
TEAM “ALPHA”
Asmina Akter
Assistant Professor
Name Roll Project
Depertment of
Abu Naim Hossen ZH-132-037 1
International Business
Tomal Khalefa BE-132-061 2
University of Dhaka
Nazmul Rahman Khan Joy BE-132-075 3
Md. Farid Mia BE-132-083 4
Nazmul Khan BE-132-100 5

Date of Submission: 10th August 2022

Project 1: Bangladesh Navy Frigate Program ................................................. 1
Introduction: ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Class Overview:................................................................................................................................. 1
General Chracteristics: .................................................................................................................... 2
Contenders: ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Development: ..................................................................................................................................... 2
Timelines:........................................................................................................................................... 4
Future Prospects and Financial Benifit: ......................................................................................... 5
Challenge: .......................................................................................................................................... 5

Project 2: The Boat , Purbachal ........................................................................ 5

Introduction: ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Overview: ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Timelines: ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Problems: ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Challenges:......................................................................................................................................... 7
Future prospects: .............................................................................................................................. 7

Project 3: Dhaka-Mawa 4 lane Expressway ..................................................... 8

Introduction: ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Timelines: ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Challenges:......................................................................................................................................... 9
Future Prospects: ....................................................................................................................... 10
Problems:....................................................................................................................................... 10
Financial Benefit: ............................................................................................................................ 11

Project 4: DHAKA SYLHET 4 LANE EXPRESSWAY .............................. 12

Introduction: ................................................................................................................................... 13
Timelines:......................................................................................................................................... 14
Problems: ......................................................................................................................................... 14
Challenges:....................................................................................................................................... 15
Future prospects: ............................................................................................................................ 16
Project 5: Dohajari -Cox’s Bazar Railway project ........................................ 17
Introduction: ................................................................................................................................... 17
Project description: ......................................................................................................................... 18
Project Objectives: .......................................................................................................................... 19
Project scope: .................................................................................................................................. 19
Financial benefit: ............................................................................................................................ 19
The project map: ............................................................................................................................. 20
Project 1: Bangladesh Navy Frigate Program

Introduction:

Bangladesh Navy frigate program is a planned project of building 6 multi-role stealth guided
missile frigates for Bangladesh Navy. In 2017, plan for the frigate project under the Forces
Goal 2030 officially announced. Bangladesh Navy is inspecting proposals from several
companies to evolve their designs into a prospective design for the proposed six guided-missile
frigates.The Bangladesh Navy stepped forward closer to finalising the impending guided
missile frigate program, which entails construction of multi-role capable guided missile frigates
in Bangladesh at the Chattogram Dry Dock Ltd (CDDL) with technical cooperation of an
experienced foreign naval shipbuilder.In Bangladesh NAVY, there are five missile those are
five guided and two have patrol guided and two have in order. Those frigates are not enough
for advance support in critical situation. That’s why BD NAVY decided that they will make
six guided missile. And this frigate program is for six guided missile attacks. By this frigate
BD NAVY will be able to operate their mission more smoothly and get more powerful and if
they can achieve this, the wheel of economy of Bangladesh will be run perfectly.

Class Overview:
Name: Not fixed yet
Builders: Chittagong Dry Dock Limited
Operators: Bangladesh Navy
Planned: 6
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General Chracteristics:
Type: Frigate
Displacement: ≥4,000 tons
Sensors and
Processing systems: Radars, Sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys: Electronic countermeasure (ECM),
Electronic warfare support measures (ESM), Decoy
Armament: Naval artillery, Anti-ship missiles, Surface to air missiles, ASW torpedoes
Aviation facilities: Flight deck and enclosed helicopter hangar.

Contenders:
In this multi-billion dollar project, companies from several countries have submitted proposals
for conceptual designs to Bangladesh Navy under joint venture program, complete transfer of
technology as well as technical assistance and maintenance support. Renowned shipbuilding
companies from Netherlands, France, Italy, Turkey and United Kingdom have shown interest.

Companies from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, China, India, South Korea and the
Netherlands initially showed interest in the project.The Bangladesh Navy evaluated the offers
from the respective shipyards of those nations but shortlisted offers from the Netherlands,
China and Italy as competent in completing the large shipbuilding project estimated to cost
over $2.5 billion.

Development:

Chittagong dry dock limited (cddl) has been selected as prime contractor for the frigate
program of bangladesh navy. The frigates will be equipped with state of the art military
hardware, sensors, electronic warfare systems etc. The lifespan of each frigate is estimated to
be 30 years in average.

However, bangladesh navy made some new requirements on the project mainly to focus on
nato standards. As a result, many renowned shipbuilding companies from european countries

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have shown interest. The project has become a major priority of ministry of defence and prime
minister's office. Despite delays on starting the construction of the frigates, it is confirmed that
all of the frigates will be completed by 2030.Under the proposal China Shipbuilding &
Offshore International Co., Ltd. (CSOC) wanted to take a majority ownership of the
Bangladesh Navy-owned CDDL and in return would build the Type 054 guided missile frigate
in Bangladesh at a cost of $378 million per unit. This was declined by the concerned authorities
as neither the takeover offer for the shipyard, nor the cost per unit of the frigates were
acceptable.

The Netherlands offer involved the Damen Group developing CDDL and building the frigates
locally however there were shortcomings in the capability of their frigate design, which were
comparable to contemporary light frigates or corvettes such as the Shadhinata class that are
already in service with the Bangladesh Navy. Thus, the Navy would not find benefit in
awarding such a contract to the Dutch shipbuilder.

Italy's Fincantieri's multipurpose frigate design, down-scaled version of their FFG (X) offered
to the US Navy attracted significant attention from the Bangladesh Navy, however the cost of
the program would be beyond the scope of the allocated budget.

Therefore, Turkey's STM is likely to be the front runner of the Bangladesh Navy's frigate
program with addition of weapons and sensors supplied by sub-contractors such as Thales,
MBDA, Aselsan, Roketsan and Leonardo, as necessary.

The Turkish frigate is a 3,000 tonne displacement modern multi-role guided missile frigate
with capability to conduct conventional naval surface, anti-air, anti-submarine and electronic
warfare using an array of modern sensors and armaments. It can be used to conduct
operations including surveillance, maritime patrolling, inspection and anti-piracy operations
also.

The 113.2 m guided missile frigate has a draught of 4.05 m and a maximum speed of over 29
knots. It has an endurance of 5,700 nautical miles at 14 knots and is equipped with CODAG
propulsion having two shafts and CPP propellers. Four diesel generators provide onboard
electrical power to operate its vast array of sensors, amenities and armaments.

The missile frigate is equipped to carry two helicopters, including one in hanger, one on the
aviation deck simultaneously.Two RHIBS provide boarding parties with capability for carrying

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out inspection duties on the high seas and accommodation is provided for the crew of 123 in
this highly automated frigate.

The Bangladesh Navy will specify what weapons it requires though this will generally include
a 76mm main gun supplied by Leonardo, 35 mm Aselsan Gökdeniz dual barreled CIWS (Close-
in Weapon System), two 25 mm Aselsan STOP automatic cannons, 16 ATMACA Vertical
launching system anti-ship cruise missile, 16-cell (total 64 missiles) MDAS Vertical Launching
System able to fire the HISAR Surface-to-air missile

A contract will have to be signed between the Governments of Bangladesh and Turkey, in
which Chattogram Shipyard will partner with Istanbul Shipyard or STM to supply the six
guided missile frigates to the Bangladesh Navy as per their technical and financial
requirements.

Generally 30% of the cost of a frigate goes towards electronics, 25% dedicated towards
weapons, 22% towards labour and 13% towards hull and equipment, and 10% towards
propulsion and miscellaneous costs

The Bangladesh Navy might need to increase the budget of its frigate program owing to drawn
out delivery timeline and the need to manufacture at least three to four units at its own
facilities in Chattogram Defseca.com estimates the final cost to be no less than $3 billion once
the warships are all delivered by 2030. The Defence Minister of Bangladesh (also the Prime
Minister concurrently) will finalise the decision on the program shortly.

Timelines:

In 2018, commodore mohammad nazmul karim said, two frigates will be commissioned in
2022, two by 2025 and two by 2030.The project has been delayed due to some geo-political
and recent changes in foreign policies. At the beginning of the project, it was estimated that all
of the frigates will be built with chinese technical assistance and complete transfer of
technology but the program was revised in 2017, following the rohingya refugee crisis.

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Future Prospects and Financial Benifit:

This frigate is a six guided missile system which is able to operate any mission in sea. And for
this features , our coastal area will remain fulfil l safe by the NAVY. And our mainly export
and import is occurred by our coastal area. That is why, if the coastal area will safe , our
export and import business will be run smoothly and then our economy will not fall rather than
it will grow.

Challenge:

This frigate program’s have some challenges. Such as the NATO standard . Some standard is
tough to maintain and some are flexible. However, bangladesh navy made some new
requirements on the project mainly to focus on nato standards. And another challenge is the
budget. Though our government trying to fix the problem.

Moreover, Bangladesh NAVY frigate program is one of the vital and essential mega project
in our current era which has a great potentiality to contribute in our economic growth. So, the
importance of this frigate is much and more in our economic growth.

Project 2: The Boat , Purbachal

Introduction:

Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium or The Boat is an under-construction cricket

stadium located in sector one of multi-billion dollar Purbachal New Town on the outskirts of
Dhaka, Bangladesh. The stadium is a joint venture of National Sports Council and Bangladesh
Cricket Board. Planned to open in 2022, the stadium will serve as the home to Bangladesh
national cricket team and Dhaka Dynamites of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). It is located
in about 38 acres (15 ha) of land east of Turag River at Purbachal Express Highway.

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Groundbreaking of the 1100-crore ($140 million) stadium began in November 2019 and is
expected to be completed by December 2022. Upon completion in 2022, The stadium will
become the second largest cricket stadium in terms of capacity, and the most expensive cricket
stadium in Asia.

Overview:

SHICS will be developed as a multi-function area. Other than a cricket stadium, the complex
will also have indoor sports and water sports facilities. Other than the sports facilities, transit-
oriented development with a five-star hotel would be developed in the stadium area. An outer
stadium with a capacity of at least 2,500 spectators will also be developed which can be used
for art performances besides sports.The stadium is being constructed in Sector I of Purbachal
New Town, in close proximity to multi-billion dollars Iconic City development project. The
stadium will have five-storied pavilion, 3-tier stands with a capacity of 50,000, and the option
to add at least 25,000 additional seats. The budget for the development of the stadium is
estimated at ৳1100-crores ($130 million), making it the most expensive cricket stadium in
Asia. From the budget, ৳37 crores were allocated towards the development of a separate
practice facility for Bangladesh national cricket team.

Timelines:

In August 2019, Bangladesh Cricket Board released a notice of Expression of Interest (EOI),
inviting consultancy firms to submit detailed designs and construction plans for the stadium.
According to the Activities Report 2017–20, BCB allocated a fund of ৳1.48 crores to set up
temporary playing facilities to facilitate year-round domestic competition. The venue is located
in about 38 acres (15 ha) of land east of Turag River at Purbachal Express Highway.
Groundbreaking of the ৳1100 crore (US$120 million) stadium began in November 2019 and
is expected to be completed by December 2022. Upon completion in 2022, The stadium will
become the third largest-ever cricket stadium in terms of capacity, and the most expensive
cricket stadium in Asia.

6
Problems:

The government has established international cricket stadiums in Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet and
Khulna since Bogura has apparently been shunned. The proposed cost of the Sheikh Hasina
International Cricket Stadium in Purbachal has been estimated at more than Tk 1,100 crore. As
it currently exists, the stadium has become a liability for the BCB when it could be an asset.
Preferring to remain unnamed, BCB officials said although floodlights have rarely been lit
since 2006, the board pays more than Tk 90,000 per month for the electricity connection.
Around Tk 2.5 lakh is also spent each month on the stadium staff’s salaries and nominal
maintenance work. Now in this adverse inflation, uncontrolled and intolerable situation
maintaining cost is so difficult .

Challenges:

PM Sheikh Hasina wants 70k venue. According to the design this stadium capacity is around
50000 but it can be expanded to 70000. It will be the second largest stadium after Melbourne
and the largest stadium in Asia. So now it’s a big challenge for the BCB to implement this
mega project and compete with others. Now the world situation is getting worse. So it is
difficult and challenging to implement this project maintaining with the current situation.

Future prospects:

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan expressed his desire to host the 2024 ICC
Women’s T20 World Cup final at the Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium, which is
under construction at Purbachal. If Bangladesh can construct the Sheikh Hasina cricket stadium
in Purbachal which is almost done BCB will try to hold the final 2024 womens T-20 cricket
world cup.

Even BCB will arrange many upcoming events here. There are so many people will get job
there. Bangladesh will a earn a huge amount of money by arranging many programs here.
According to the capacity so many native and foreign audience will spect match together. Even
Sheikh Hasina cricket stadium will change the view of counties infrastructure. It will encourage
our people and players. After the completion of the project along with other so many mega

7
project poverty will be reduced, and Bangladesh will achieve Millennium Development Goals
(MDG).

Project 3: Dhaka-Mawa 4 lane Expressway

Introduction:

An expressway is an urban motorway or highway designed for fast traffic, with

controlled access. On the four-lane Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, drivers will get four entry
and exit points between Dhaka and Mawa.Slow moving vehicles will have to use two
service lanes on either side of the expressway.The expressway includes a five-metre-
wide central reservation, two service roads, three large bridges over Dhaleshwari and
Arial Kha rivers, and 28 culverts and bridges of different lengths, officials told Dhaka
Tribune.Six flyovers and four railroad overpasses have also been constructed under the
project to ensure uninterrupted vehicular movement on the highway. Additionally, there
will be designated space for elevated rail services.During a recent visit, this
correspondent found that a railway overpass in Jurain area of the expressway was ready
for opening, with vehicles already using it.The expressway starts from the Dholaipar
intersection, where an artery of the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover (Gulistan -
Jatrabari) descends, and goes towards Mawa through the Bangladesh-China Friendship
Bridge (locally known as Postogola Bridge) over Buriganga River.The bridge may
briefly hamper a smooth journey as it is much narrower than the expressway. The
Babubazar Bridge over the Buriganga also hinders easy passage in a similar way.Project
manager Mostafa said the government will also build two bridges over Buriganga River
to improve conditions of traffic going towards the expressway.

Timelines:

8
People of the 21 southern districts can now easily travel from Dhaka to their respective
destinations. People can reach Dhaka to Mawa in just 27 minutes under Louhjong upazila of
Munshiganj. There is a touch of aesthetics in this expressway. It is the first expressway in the
country.Construction of the expressway on both sides of the Padma River began in May 2016.
Initially, the project cost was estimated at Tk 6,000 crore. However,in the end, the construction
of this road cost 11,000 crores. The work of the aesthetics expressway has beencompleted in
four years.The expressway has made it a comfort to reach Dhaka to Mawa and Mawa to Dhaka.
It takes only 27 minutes to reach Mawa from Dhaka.The length of the highway is 31.7
km from Jatrabari to Mawa, 3.0 km from Babu Bazar to Ekuria, and 20km from
Panchor to Bhanga. The Bangladesh Army's 24 Engineering Construction Brigade
has been implementing both the main and supporting projects. The expressway
was opened for traffic on March 11, 2020.

Challenges:

Cost of the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway is set to incr ease once again for adding new
components to its supporting project six months before its closure.The Roads and
Highways Department (RHD) has estimated an increase of Tk 2.63 billion for
adding new components.Sources said of the new estimation, the cost is likely to
increase by Tk 600 million to redesign and develop two roundabouts near the
Padma Bridge, which was not included in the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB)
project.They said the roundabout development works at Mawaand Panchor were
supposed to be carried out by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) to ensure
smooth connectivity between the expressway and the country's longest bridge."As
the BBA has not taken any project in this regard, the RHD has to include the
components in its 'Finishing the Unfini shed Work of the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway
Project', taken in 2017," said an official.Construction of 24 more foot -over
bridges, repair and maintenance works of the existing bridges, a gas station and
an office of the RHD have been proposed in the latest revis ion of the project.As
the expressway is developed with six lanes along with two -lane service roads,
redesigning the roundabouts has beennecessary.The RHD has already started
working on cost revision of the Tk 41.11 -billion 'Finishing the Unfinished Work

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of the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway Project'.As the cost of developing the 55 -km
Dhaka-Mawa Expressway increased to Tk 110 billion, the road infrastructure
project has become the country's costliest one in terms of per kilometre cost.

Future Prospects:

The 55-kilometer Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, the first international standard Expressway, has
changed the overall lifestyle, including economic emancipation.The 4-lane Expressway has
been built keeping in mind the need to increase traffic for the next 20 years.The Expressway
will be part of the Asian Highway, connecting Dhaka and Kolkata through the Benapole
border.Locals in Bhanga Gol Chattar told, "Even a few years ago, our area was neglected due
to geographical location. But with the implementation of the dreamPadma Bridge project, the
importance of this region has increased. This connecting highway on both sides of the bridge
haschanged the quality of our overall lifestyle today. Today we have created employment. We
will benefit more if the Padma bridge is fully opened. 'The expressway has made it a comfort
to reach Dhaka to Mawa and Mawa to Dhaka. It takes only 27 minutes to reach Mawa from
Dhaka.Dhaka-Mawa Expressway is the mile stone in communication sector.This road will
contribute significantly for our socio-economic development of the country.Our seaborne trade
will increase in near future.

Problems :

Behind every success there is a story of failure. So there are some problems behind the success
of Dhaka-Mawa 4 lane expressway. According to Highway Police data, at least two accidents
took place on the expressway in three days, with some insisting that the numbers are higher as
some cases go unreported.The 55-kilometre Mawa Expressway, designed to connect Dhaka
with Bhanga, was supposed to ease commuting to the capital. Instead, it has turned into a death
trap.Inexperience of driving on an expressway, a sheer disregard for traffic rules, a lack of
enforcement of speed limit and breakneck speeding by drivers have turned the Mawa
Expressway into one of the deadliest stretches of road in the country today. According to Afzal
Hossain, officer-in-charge of Hasara Highway Police Station, 196 accidents took place in 2021
alone, leaving 74 dead and 265 severely injured.Just January this year saw 26 accidents, with
six dead and 52 more injured.The Mawa Expressway, Bangladesh's first expressway, was

10
inaugurated in March 2020.From then till March 2021, there have been 79 accidents on the
expressway with 65 dead and 67 severely injured.Most of the accident happen because of high
speed. If those speeding because they did not know better was a problem, the biggest concern
are amateur speed racers.Several police officials,locals and regular commuters, told TBS that
private cars and motorcycles engaged in competitive racing which caused frequent
accidents.The people living from Dhaka-Mawa road side suffer much because only a few bus
of this expressway stop to carry them.For this the can not go to Dhaka or Come to Mawa on
time.Therefore huge amount of electricity use for this expressway.

Financial Benefit:

Dhaka-Mawa 4 lane expressway may bring financial benefit to our economy.Dhaka-Mawa

expressway is constructed aiming for connectivity with South-West regions of Bangladesh especially
with Khulna division as well as the rest of the country. It is connected Khulna through Padma Multi-
Purpose Bridge which is under construction.This road contribute significantly to our socio-
economic development of the country. Our seaborne trade will increase in near future with
increasing economic activities both home and abroad. This road will connect all possible
connectivity networks across thePadma River. Export-import of goods is not smooth because
of bad road connectivity with ports. 90 per cent of total cargo are transported by Chattogram
port alone while only 10 per cent through Mongla. Container goods are also transported through
railways but only 4 percentof the total export are transported from Dhaka to Chattogram port
through railways which is also costly and time consuming.But the transport of container goods
mostly depends on roadways. The major portion of the export goods are sent from Dhaka. The
reason behind dependency on roads is that the export goods are first sent on covered vans from
the factories to the private container depots. Apart from the terminal, most of the container
depots are located in Chattogram. So, the Dhaka-Mawa road will play a vital role for
connecting Mongla port with Dhaka through Padma Bridge for handling export-import goods
helping in economic growth and reducing pressure on Chattogram port.Transport through the
Mongla port would gain momentums after the Padma Bridge is constructed and commissioned.
Economic significance of this road is significant. Industrialisation, habitation, trade and
commerce will gear-up in both sides of the road. Small, medium and heavy industries will grow
increasing opportunities of employment of the people.With the transformation from agriculture
to industrialisation, the backward linkages will also grow for increasing demand of their raw

11
materials. There will be modernisation of agriculture (cultivation, irrigation, seed plantation,
marketing of agro-products), dairy farms and animal husbandry instead of old cultivation
method.Decentralisation of economic activities is a priority of the modern world. Increasing
population means higher demand for human fundamental rights (food, shelter, cloth, medicine,
education, medical treatment, etc.). If the road is made, economic activities will be expanded
and decentralised. It will contribute to the national income and GDP growth creating more
employment opportunities reducing income inequality and disparity of the people. There is
potential of setting up special economic zones on both sides of greater Dhaka-Mawa-Khulna
road. Potential for tourisms and hospitalities will also rise.Domestic and foreign style hotel and
motel can come up with investment in that sector.A riverine scene, fishing, journey by boat,
speed boat, ship, etc. will attract the traveller, inspectors and tourists from home and abroad
near the Padma river. Dhaka-Mawa road is a milestone in our communication sector which will
facilitate and accelerate road connectivity, socio-economic development and contribute to
attaining sustainable development goals of the country.

Dhaka-Mawa 4 lane expressway is one of the best mega projet of our government which is
very important in communication sector.It is the first ever national expressway in our
country.After opening the expressway, the door of emancipation of millions of people of 22
districts of south Bengal has been opened. They are directly benefiting.The Padma Bridge is
opened for public use and people can use the bridge to enter the expressway.Many people now
built houses and establishments in this area due to improved communication system.It is a
amazing expressway.Almost every day people come to see the quality and beauty of this
expressway and also visit Padma river.It seems the UK`s expressway.The quality and beauty
of this expressway give us a proude feeling.It is not just a expressway it is sign of our
development.

Chapter 2 Project 4: DHAKA SYLHET 4 LANE EXPRESSWAY

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Introduction:
Dhaka Sylhet 4 lane Highway is one of the greatest and longest highway projects of
Bangladesh. Its total length 226 kilometre from Dhaka to Sylhet. Ministry of Road Transport
and Bridges/ Road Transport and Highways Division sponsoring Dhaka Sylhet Highway.
The primary goal of the project is to upgrade the existing Dhaka-Sylhet road to a 4-lane
Highway with the provision of slow moving vehicular traffic lanes on both sides. This road
section is an important part of Asian Highway BIMSTEC corridor and SAARC Highway
corridor .

The development of the road will enhance the facilitation of faster and safer movements of
passenger and cargo as well as will establish more economic links between Dhaka, Bhairab,
Jagadishpur, Shaistaganj, Sylhet and Tamabil, and all places within the areas.
The border crossing at Tamabil, between Bangladesh and India, has the potential to generate
significantly increased traffic volumes within this region.
Such increased traffic volumes would have a positive economic effect for the people who live
and work within the project road corridor.
Further economic benefits could be expected from the increased use of the road corridor by
commercial traffic travelling from/to other parts of Bangladesh and cross-border traffic
travelling, in due course, from eastern India to Dhaka.

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Timelines:

Accepted date of commencement 1-7-2016. People of the Sylhet division and others
inside can now easily travel from Dhaka to their respective destinations. We all know, Sylhet
is located in the heart of tea growing area and is the hub of the tea industry in Bangladesh. The
construction industry is currently booming in Sylhet. It is also a centre of the oil and gas sector
in Bangladesh and the largest natural gas reserves are located in Sylhet Division. A special
economic zone (SEZ) has been established by the Government in Sylhet Division. Through the
development of this road, Dhaka, the capital city of the country and Chittagong, the commercial
capital will be well connected with Sylhet.
The government will overspend more than twice the original budget of Tk 38.85 billion to set
up service lanes on both sides of the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway as part of a project to develop it
to four lanes. The project, cleared in 2018 and supposed to be complete by 2021, will now cost
Tk 79.75 billion.Meanwhile, the consultant firm, which has prepared the design for the Dhaka-
Sylhet highway expansion, suggested keeping 23 overpasses at all major intersections to ensure
free flow of traffic, a RHD official said.
Md Waliur Rahman, an additional chief engineer of RHD, who is looking after the project, said
construction of 23 overpasses will increase the project cost and as ADB found it economically
non-viable, they have dropped 17 overpasses for now. The acceptance of completion of the
project 30-06-2020.The government has planned to expand the Dhaka-Sylhet highway into
four-lane without keeping adequate overpasses and underpasses, which may reduce the service
and productivity of the road.
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) recently submitted the Development Project Plan
(DPP) of the long-drawn project worth around Tk 17,400 crore to the Ministry of Road
Transport and Bridges.
The two-lane national highway will have four main lanes and two more lanes for slow-moving
vehicles under the project to be implemented with Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan in
four years.

Problems:

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The project, cleared in 2018 and supposed to be complete by 2021, will now cost Tk 79.75
billion.On Tuesday, the Executive Committee of the Economic Council extended the deadline
to December 2023, besides approving the cost overrun.Planning Minister MA Mannan said
after the ECNEC meeting that the cost shot up due to a change in the law on land
acquisition.During the feasibility study in 2015, the law stipulated a compensation of 1.5 times
as much as market price of land for government acquisition.
It was increased to threefold of the market price of land later.The government is acquiring land
along the 165-kilometre highway for the project.The first feasibility study was done on a ‘S’
shaped plan for the highway, but the design would not allow vehicles to run at a speed of 100
kilometer. According to RHD's revised project proposal, Tk 36.61 billion worth of funds would
be required afresh for 394.791 acres of additional land for the Dhaka-Sylhet highways.
Currently, the RHD has set aside Tk 34.30 billion for acquiring 986.476 acres of land.
Similarly, the department also raised the utility-shifting cost to Tk 8.68 billion, 93 percent
higher than the current estimation of Tk 8.68 billion.A PC official said the RHD has sought a
total of Tk 8.68 billion for utility shifting as the "block allocation" which shall not be justified.
"We will seek clarification from the RHD for the sudden trigger of the land-and utility-shifting
costs under the project. The agency shall clarify details of land rate and utility-shifting service
charges," he said.

"We will try to know about the numbers of electricity poles, gas lines and other utility lines
shifting from the current position on the road alignment. We will seek a detailed report from
the RHD at the PEC," he added.

Challenges:
There are many challenges that occur from starting the project. From the beginning of the
project it has to face major barriers like COVID-19 and the acquisition field from the people
of the countrymen.Land-acquisition cost for Dhaka-Sylhet 4-lane highway project has been
doubled over initial estimation through 'engineering' its design, also a challenges of the project.
Such type of challenges and also other challenges faced for the Dhaka Sylhet 4 lane Highway.

15
The 70km road from Joydebpur to Elenga in Tangail will have seven overpasses and 11
underpasses under SASEC-1 while the 190km highway from Elenga to Rangpur will have six
overpasses and 39 underpasses under SASEC-2. Both projects are being implemented with the
ADB loan."The absence of adequate number of overpasses will create interruption at all
intersections [of Dhaka-Sylhet highway], which will reduce the level of service and
productivity of the road," Prof Shamsul Hoque of Buet Civil engineering department, told The
Daily Star.
The government would ultimately have to construct overpasses at the intersections to avoid
traffic congestion in future but it would then cost more money and in many cases, it may not
be at all possible, said the transport expert.The RHD also enhanced its number of consultant
services through enhancing the original cost.
It has now sought Tk 205.05 million worth of funds for consultancy services for the land
acquisition and utility shifting from its initial estimation of Tk 54.68 million.
The RHD has included Tk 6.75 million worth of funds afresh for renting cars and vehicles for
the project.

Future prospects:
The people of Sylhet Division can communicate and can business from Sylhet day to day life.
The traffic jam of Dhaka city will reduce for the project. The time of coming from Sylhet To
Dhaka will reduce. The GDP of the Bangladesh will increase and bangladesh people will
develop for this project.Some other prospects that Development of tourism. Contribute to the
growth of GDP. Development of fishing industries. Promoting new investments in the
areas.Generating huge employment.To improve the socio-economic condition of the people
surrounding the area.Increase of mobility of people which results a positive impact on national
economy.Construction of roads to boost up tourism industry in the country.

Improve road access to the places of historical interest.Develop road network in resourceful
Sylhet areas.Measures to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka (Katchpur)-Sylhet road.Address
road safety issues to reduce road accidents by 25 percent by 2015 as part of the UN decade of
Action for Road safety.
Upgrading the highway to international standards with provision of sign and signal,
intersections and service lanes for slow moving vehicles

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Improve regional road connectivity including implementation of Asian Highway Network,
BIMSTEC and SAARC corridor to boost up trade and commerce.Although the consultant had
laid out the design keeping 23 overpasses/flyovers on each of the major intersections of the
highway, the DPP brought down the number to only six "due to fund constraint", officials
involved with the project said.

Chapter 3 Project 5: Dohajari -Cox’s Bazar Railway project

Construction of Single Line Dual Gauge Railway Track from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via
Ramu and Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar Border.

Introduction:

Plan (RP) and progress of the Dohazari – Cox’s Bazar Railway Project, in Chittagong and
Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
represented by the Ministry of Railways is the Project Sponsoring Agency while Bangladesh
Railway (BR) is the Project Implementing Agency. The Development Partner of the project is
the Asian Development Bank (ADB). For this project two loan agreements have been signed

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between Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) on
December 21, 2017. The scope of the report is to provide a progress status of the land
acquisition and resettlement activities and to assess their compliance with ADB Safeguard
Policy Statement 2009 (SPS 2009), and to account for the implementation of resettlement
activities at the field level. The first report covered the period of October 2016 to March 2017
, the second covered April 2017 to November 2017 and third report covered December 2017
to June 2018. Both (first and second) reports are disclosed on ADB website. Now, this fourth
semi-annual report is covering the period from July 2018 to December 2018.

During the first, second and third SMR, the land acquisition process was at its primary stage.
During this reporting period, substantial progress has been achieved and reflected in this report.

Project description:

Chittagong – Cox’s Bazar Railway Project, phase 1, involves new construction of 103.477 km
Single Line Dual Gauge Railway Track from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar. The Project
components include:

• New Construction of 103.477 km Single Line Dual Gauge Railway Track

(Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar);

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• Construction of 09 Railway Station, namely Dohazari, Satkania, Lohagara, Harbang,
Chakaria,

Dulahazra, Islamabad, Ramu and Cox’s Bazar;

• Construction of 4 Large bridges (over 100 m), 39 Major bridges (50 m to 100 m) and
145 culverts;

• Construction of Elephant Crossing (underpass and overpass)

• Construction of Modern Computer Based Inter Locking (CBI) signaling system; •

Construction of an ICONIC station building at Coax’s Bazar.

Project Objectives:
The objectives of the project are to promote the economic development and reduce poverty
through a new connectivity of railway in the southeastern part of Bangladesh, specifically
Cox’s Bazar where the largest natural sea beach is situated. This project will link the Capital
City (Dhaka) and other integrated railway networks of Bangladesh. The project will directly
contribute to earning Foreign Exchange through the development of the Tourism Industry and
the export of Garments and Agro based products, including an internal carriage of imported
and local goods.

Project scope:
The name of the project is Single Line Dual Gauge Railway Track Construction Project Phase
1, between Dohazari of Chittagong district to Cox’s Bazar Sadar of Cox’s Bazar district
significant namely Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.

Financial benefit:
Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar railway project is expected to connect the national and sub-regional
railway networks for the first time.

The new line will connect Cox’s Bazar district to sub-regional markets in order to enhance
trade. By providing intermodal facilities for passengers and freight, the project will also
improve connections to Myanmar.With dual-gauge tracks, the project will offer connections to
western Bangladesh and India, where most of the railways are broad-gauge, and towards north-
eastern India and Southeast Asia, which primarily offer meter-gauge tracks.

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The project helps Bangladesh to meet its targets under its 7th Five-Year plan and its railway
master plan, which aim to raise the country’s freight market share to 15% and its passenger

market share to 10%.

The project map:

THE END

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