Bangladesh and China yesterday signed a framework agreement to convert the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway into a 4-lane expressway under a government-to-government (G2G) process, reports UNB. Roads and Highway department Chief Engineer Ebne Alam Hasan signed the agreement on behalf of the Bangladesh government while China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd President Tang Qiaoliang signed on behalf of the Chinese government.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader witnessed the signing ceremony held at the Roads and Highways Department. Speaking on the occasion, Obaidul Quader said the 226-kilometer long highway from Kanchpur to Sylhet will be developed into four lanes under the project to improve connectivity between capital Dhaka and Sylhet city, at a cost of approximately Tk 17,000 crore. He said the highway will be included with separate service lanes on both sides along with the four lanes for slow-moving vehicles. Road Transport and Bridges secretary MAN Siddique and former permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations (UN) Dr  AK Abdul Momen, among others, were present at the function.