Land acquisition deadlock of Dhaka-Sylhet six-lane project will be resolved in October: Commerce Minister

Khondaker Abdul Muktadir, Minister for Commerce, Industries and Textiles and Jute, has expressed hope that a major part of the ongoing complication regarding land acquisition of the Dhaka-Sylhet six-lane highway construction project will be resolved by next October.

He has informed that there is a target of completing the work of the Sylhet portion of the highway by 2028. The construction work of the entire project may be completed between the end of 2028 and the middle of 2029.

The minister said these things to journalists after inspecting the progress of the six-lane construction work of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Osmaninagar of Sylhet on Wednesday (September 30). Earlier, he visited the progress of the project work in Lalabazar area of Dakshin Surma.

Khondaker Abdul Muktadir said that the Dhaka-Sylhet highway project is being implemented phase by phase in various areas including the Sylhet portion. Recently, the Road Transport Minister inspected the project work up to Habiganj. According to the plan of those concerned, there is a target of completing the construction work of the entire highway between the end of 2028 and the middle of 2029. It is hoped that the work of the Sylhet portion will be completed by 2028.

Regarding land acquisition, the minister said that the work of acquiring the necessary land for implementing the project is ongoing. Most of the 113 cases related to this have already been disposed of. Initiatives have also been taken for rapid disposal of the remaining cases. He expressed hope that the bulk of the complications related to land acquisition will be removed by next October.

At this time, Chairman of Sylhet WASA Miftah Siddiqui, President of Sylhet Metropolitan BNP Nasim Hossain, General Secretary Emdad Hossain Chowdhury, Additional District Administrator Pinki Saha and concerned officials were present.

On the other hand, Khondaker Abdul Muktadir has emphasised involving local people to ensure the quality of work of development projects. Calling upon everyone to play a responsible role to prevent irregularities and corruption, he said that regular monitoring of the progress of the project and the qualitative standard of work is necessary. He proposed forming a supervision committee with imams of local mosques, head teachers of schools, retired engineers and eminent citizens.

The minister said these things as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the riverbank protection work on the right bank of the Surma river at Kanishail under the ‘Surma-Kushiyara River Basin Development and Flood and Integrated Water Management Project (1st Phase)’ of the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Sylhet Sadar upazila on Wednesday.

He said that a major project has been taken to tackle floods and waterlogging in Sylhet. Under this, there is a plan to construct embankments and roads of about 17 kilometres each on both banks of the Surma river. Once the project is implemented, walking opportunities for city dwellers will be created along with flood control. At the same time, new possibilities of river-centric tourism will also be opened.

The minister further said that it is not possible for any single institution to implement the development of Sylhet. Sustainable development can be ensured only through the combined initiative of the government, city corporation, Water Development Board, local public representatives, political leaders and common people. He expressed determination to advance the development activities of Sylhet by finding a permanent solution to river erosion, floods and waterlogging through coordinated efforts.

District Administrator of Sylhet Abdullah Al Mamun presided over the programme where Administrator of Sylhet City Corporation Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, Additional Chief Engineer of Water Development Board Prabir Kumar Goswami and those concerned were present.