Asian HighwayA vision for the FutureAsian Highway

A vision for the Future

Country Presentation: Bangladesh  03 November 2015

6th Working Group Meeting on  Asian HighwaySeoul, Korea

• Asian Highway(AH)1

• AH Network In Bangladesh 2

• Signage on AH3

• Realignment Proposal of AH4

Presentation Outline 

Connectivity – why do we need?

• Regional Connectivity is essential for seamless movement of people, goods and services across borders;

• Cross‐border transport connectivity  ‐ an important factor for regional economic cooperation through investment,  production, and trade;

• Connectivity enhances people to people contact;

Bangladesh Perspective :• Advantageous geographical location allows it to connect with neighboring countries and global transport network;

• Recognizing the importance of regional connectivity in enhancing economic cooperation, Bangladesh has undertaken a wide range of programs to upgrade its corridor based transport network to a standard  with a view to accommodating regional as well as international traffic.

Asian Highway Network

AH-1 : Tokyo, Japan to Kapikula, Turkey

Tokyo

Kapikula

Dhaka

Istambul

Ankara Tehran

Kabul

Islamabad

Agra Mandalay

YangoonBangkok

Phno Penh

Guangzhu

Beijing

Seol

AH1 Length: 20,551 km 

AH1 crosses 14 countries 

AH-2 : Denpasar, Indonesia to Khosravi, Iran

Denpasar

Jakarta

Singapore

Kuala Lumpur

Bangkok

Mandalay

Imphal

Dhaka

ShiliguriNew Delhi

MultanQuetta

Khorsravi

AH2 Length: 13,177 km 

AH2 crosses 10 countries 

Status of AH in South AsiaCountry Primary Class I Class II Class III Bellow III Total

(Km)

Bangladesh ‐ 72 1553 94 22 1741

Bhutan ‐ 7 116 ‐ 47 170

India 90 4069 1675 5699 277 11810

Nepal ‐ ‐ 218 1082 13 1313

Pakistan 357 1116 254 2475 1138 5340

Sri Lanka ‐ 45 525 71 641

Total 447 5309 4341 9421 1497 21015

Percentage 2.1 25.35 20.65 44.8 7.1 100.00

UN ESCAP 2014

AH Network in Bangladesh

AH Network in Bangladesh

Bangladesh  signed  Intergovernmental Agreement of Asian Highway Network (IGA)  on  05 July 2009IGA came into force on 08 November 2009

Three Asian Highway Routes crosses BangladeshAsian Highway‐1 (AH1), Asian Highway‐2 (AH2) andAsian Highway‐41 (AH41). Total length of the AH routes in Bangladesh is 1771 Km

AH1 and AH2 substantially cross more than one sub region and connect Bangladesh with 28 countries.

AH41 remains within the sub region.

AH Network in BangladeshAH Route Length according to

AH design standard(Km)TotalLength,Km(CommonPart)

I II III/Below III

AH1 47 418 27 492

AH2 42 758 ‐ 800(283,AH1)

AH41 220 702 ‐ 922(160,AH2)

Asian Highway Data Base 

Primary Class I Class II Class III Below III

2013 0.00 78.0 1560.0 95.0 20.0

2015 0.00 309.0 1425.0 22.0 5.0

Change % 0.0 298.0 (8.5) (76.5) (75.0)

Length in Kilometer

AH1 inside BangladeshTamabil

Sylhet

Sherpur

Mirpur

Sarial

Nashingdi

Katchpur

Dhaka (S)

Mawa

Charjanajat

Bhanga

Bhatiapara

Kalna FG

Narail

Jessore

53 km

39 km

45 km

61 km

47 km

38 km

10 km

0 km

29 km

37 km

3 km

24 km

32 km

Total 492 km

35 km

38 km

Benapole

Sections Length(Km)

AH Standard  Projects 

Tamabil Sylhet 55 II FS & DD completed

Sylhet Shaistaganj 40.5 I/II FS & DD completed

Shaistaganj Mirpur 43.25 II FS & DD completed

Mirpur Sarail 61 II FS & DD completed

Sarail Narhsingdi 53 I/II FS & DD completed

Narhsingdi Katchpur 33.5 I/II FS & DD completed

Katchpur Dhaka (South) 8 I Already upgraded 

Dhaka (South)  Mawa 35 I/II FS & DD completed

Mawa Charjanajat 6.15 Padma Multipurpose Bridge 

Charjanajat Bhanga 22.25 II FS & DD completed

Bhanga Bhatiapara 38 II FS & DD ongoing

Bhatiapara Kalna FG  3 III FS & DD ongoing

Kalna FG  Narail 24 III, Bellow III FS & DD ongoing

Narail Jessore 32 II FS & DD ongoing

Jessore Benapole 38 II FS & DD ongoing

Projects on AH1

AH2  inside BangladeshTamabil

Sylhet

Sherpur

Sarail

Narshingdi

Katchpur

Dhaka (N)

Kaliakoir

Elenga

Hatikamrul

Bogra

Gobindagonj

Ranjgpur

Beldanga

53 km

39 km

61 km

47 km

38 km

10 km

20 km

50 km

40 km

56 km

34 km

71 km

67 km

Panchagarh

76 km

Banglabandha

56 km

Joydevpur

20 km

Total 517 km

22 km

Dhaka (S)

Sections km  Class Projects 

Dhaka (South)  Dhaka (North)  20  I Developed 

Dhaka (North)  Joydevpur 22  I Developed 

Joydevpur Kaliakoir 22  II SASEC Road Connectivity Project ongoing 

Kariakoir Elenga 49 II SASEC Road Connectivity Project ongoing

Elenga Hatikamrul 41 II FS & DD completed

Hatikamrul Bogra 55.5  II FS & DD completed

Bogra Gonbindaganj 34 .25 II FS & DD completed

Gonbindaganj Rangpur 66.5  II FS & DD completed

Rangpur Beldanga 72.5  II FS & DD ongoing

Beldanga Panchagarh 78.25  II FS & DD ongoing

Panchagarh Banglabandha 56  II FS & DD ongoing

Projects on AH2

AH41  inside BangladeshTeknaf

Cox’s Bazar

Keranirhat

Chittagong

Feni

Moinamoti

Daudkandi

Dhaka (N)

Joydevpur

Kaliakoir

Elenga

Banpara

Dasuria

87 km

92 km

49 km

88 km

63 km

43 km

26 km

22 km

20 km

50 km

40 km

51 km

23 km

Paksey

9 km

Kushtia

31 km

Dhaka (S)

20 km

Total 762 km

Jhenaidah

Jessore

Khulna

Mongla

45 km

62 km

43 km

10 km

42 km

Katchpur

Hatikamrul

Sections km  Class Status Teknaf Cox's Bazar  73.25 II FS & DD completed

Cox's Bazar  Keranirhat 101.25

II FS & DD completed

Keranirhat Chittagong  48  II FS & DD completedChittagong  Feni 96  II Upgrading ongoing 

Feni Moinamoti 64  II Upgrading ongoing Moinamoti Daudkandi 44  II Upgrading ongoing Daudkandi Katchpur 29.75  I Upgraded to 4‐lane Hatikamrul Banpara 51  II FS & DD completed

Banpara Dasuria 22  II FS & DD ongoingDasuria Paksey 12  II FS & DD ongoingPaksey Kushtia 24  II FS & DD ongoingKushtia Jhenaidah 45.5  II FS & DD ongoing

Jhenaidah Jessore 4 II FS & DD completed Jessore Khulna  62.25  II FS & DD completedKhulna  Mongla 44 II FS and DD completed

Projects on AH41

Ongoing AH Projects in Bangladesh

• Bridging the Missing Link(Padma Multipurpose Bridge and Kalna Bridge) – AH1

• Dhaka‐Mawa to 4 lane – AH1

• Dhaka‐Chittagong to 4 lane –AH41

• Joydevpur‐Tangail‐Elenga to 4 lane – AH2 and AH41

• Three major bridges on Dhaka‐Chittagong Highway

Future AH Projects in Bangladesh

• Dhaka‐ Sylhet to 4 lane –AH1 and AH2

• Hatikamrul –Rangpur to 4 lane – AH2

• Rangpur‐Banglabandha to 4 Lane – AH2

• Mawa‐Bhatiapara‐Jessore‐Benapole to 4 Lane – AH1

• Chittagong‐Coxbazaar‐Teknaf to 4 Lane – AH41

Asian HighwaySignage 

• The Asian Highway signage is rectangular in shape and consists  of the letters AH followed by the route number in Arabic numerals .

• White or black inscription affixed to or combined with other signs which can be easily identified and understood by drivers.

Article 4 of IGA

Route  signs should be placed on all routes within five (5) years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement for the State Concerned.

AH 61AH 6

AH 1

AH Signage 

TamabilAHI and AH2

BanglabandhaAH2

RamuAH41

AH Signage 

Feni Narshingdi Bagerhat

Asian HighwayRoute Alignment 

Article 9 of IGA‘Amendments may be proposed by any Party after consultation and obtaining consensus with directly concerned neighbouring States except for an amendment relating to domestic alignment that does not change an international border crossing’…..

AH definition : Highway routes within subregions including those connecting to neighbouring subregions; and highway routes located within member States which provide access to:

(a) Capitals;(b) Main industrial and Agricultural centres; (c) Major air, sea and river ports; (d) Major container terminals and depots; and(e) Major tourist attractions.

AH 41 route alignment

Route  status: 

Existing AH standard along new route  : Class II

Proposal for Improvement to Class I Under PPP

Reasons for Proposal:

• Avoid Urban Area• Save Travel time

AH41

Madanpur

Bhogra

Bhulta

KatchpurKatchpur

AH41

AH41

BangabandhuBridge

Conclusion• AH is the core regional connectivity corridor across Asian countries;

• Yet, Bangladesh needs to identify synergies with other regional initiatives;

• The country has identified regional connectivity transport network under UNESCAP, SAARC, SASEC, BIMSTEC and BCIM. 

• Many sections of these initiatives overlap with Asian Highway Routes;

• Bangladesh is giving priority on up‐gradation of  AH road sections;

• Bangladesh emphasizes corridor based road development with a view to accommodating regional as well as international traffic.

Thank you