Print: 02 Nov 2025
The government has moved to strengthen regional infrastructure by proposing the construction of five climate-resilient bridges in the Mymensingh and Netrokona districts.
The initiative aims to provide year-round connectivity, enhance regional integration, and unlock the economic, tourism, and resource potential of Bangladesh’s northern frontier.
A senior Planning Commission official told the Daily Sun that the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has submitted a proposal titled “Construction of Five Climate Resilient Bridges in Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh” at an estimated cost of Tk3,745.98 crore for formal approval.
A Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting, chaired by MA Akmal Hossain Azad, Member (Senior Secretary) of the Planning Commission’s Physical Infrastructure Division, recently reviewed the plan. The meeting examined cost structures, technical design, and land acquisition requirements, and recommended revisions to the cost breakdowns before resubmission.
If approved, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) will implement the project under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, with co-financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Implementation is scheduled from July 2025 to June 2030.
Bridging isolation and enabling growth
The bridges are planned for Dobaura and Haluaghat in Mymensingh, and Kalmakanda and Durgapur in Netrokona – remote, border-adjacent regions long cut off from reliable road connectivity due to rivers. Despite their natural beauty and mineral resources, including china clay, these areas remain economically underutilised.
The project will bridge critical infrastructure gaps, especially along the 172-kilometer J-2834 Border Road, a key corridor for cross-district and cross-border trade. Once completed, the bridges are expected to boost tourism, expand local trade with India, and stimulate economic activity in the northern belt.
Key components
The project will feature two extradosed bridges (1,320 meters in total) and three arch bridges (568 meters), supported by 2.92 kilometers of viaducts and elevated roads to navigate flood-prone terrain.
Additional works include: 6.05 km of approach roads, 1.77 km of service roads, 2.39 km of riverbank protection, 16.08 km of drainage systems, and 863 meters of retaining walls. The project will also feature the installation of toll plazas, bridge illumination, and other electrical infrastructure to support operations and enhance safety.
The bridges will span the Mahadev, Ganeshwari, Someshwari, and Nitai rivers, directly connecting currently isolated areas to the national transport network.
Climate resilience and sustainability
Designed for Bangladesh’s climate vulnerabilities, the bridges will incorporate flood- and erosion-resistant features.
The project also includes the preparation of climate-adaptive bridge design guidelines through specialised consultancy services, a necessity for Bangladesh, which remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
About 41.7 hectares of land will be acquired, with comprehensive resettlement and compensation programmes planned to uphold environmental and social safeguards.
Financing and oversight
Of the Tk3,745.98 crore cost, Tk895.22 crore will come from the government and Tk2,850.76 crore ($233.67 million) as a loan from the IsDB.
Oversight will be provided by the Planning Commission, the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and local administrations.
Officials expect the project to stimulate economic revitalisation by improving access to tourist destinations like Birishiri and Someshwari Valley while fostering local and cross-border trade.
“This project represents a major step toward equitable development and strategic connectivity in Bangladesh’s underdeveloped northern belt,” a senior Planning Commission official said. “It aligns with the government’s vision of inclusive infrastructure, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.”
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5 climate-resilient bridges planned for Mymensingh, Netrokona
Govt eyes Tk3,746cr project with IsDB support to boost connectivity, trade, and tourism
The government has moved to strengthen regional infrastructure by proposing the construction of five climate-resilient bridges in the Mymensingh and Netrokona districts.
The initiative aims to provide year-round connectivity, enhance regional integration, and unlock the economic, tourism, and resource potential of Bangladesh’s northern frontier.
A senior Planning Commission official told the Daily Sun that the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has submitted a proposal titled “Construction of Five Climate Resilient Bridges in Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh” at an estimated cost of Tk3,745.98 crore for formal approval.
A Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting, chaired by MA Akmal Hossain Azad, Member (Senior Secretary) of the Planning Commission’s Physical Infrastructure Division, recently reviewed the plan. The meeting examined cost structures, technical design, and land acquisition requirements, and recommended revisions to the cost breakdowns before resubmission.
If approved, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) will implement the project under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, with co-financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Implementation is scheduled from July 2025 to June 2030.
Bridging isolation and enabling growth
The bridges are planned for Dobaura and Haluaghat in Mymensingh, and Kalmakanda and Durgapur in Netrokona – remote, border-adjacent regions long cut off from reliable road connectivity due to rivers. Despite their natural beauty and mineral resources, including china clay, these areas remain economically underutilised.
The project will bridge critical infrastructure gaps, especially along the 172-kilometer J-2834 Border Road, a key corridor for cross-district and cross-border trade. Once completed, the bridges are expected to boost tourism, expand local trade with India, and stimulate economic activity in the northern belt.
Key components
The project will feature two extradosed bridges (1,320 meters in total) and three arch bridges (568 meters), supported by 2.92 kilometers of viaducts and elevated roads to navigate flood-prone terrain.
Additional works include: 6.05 km of approach roads, 1.77 km of service roads, 2.39 km of riverbank protection, 16.08 km of drainage systems, and 863 meters of retaining walls. The project will also feature the installation of toll plazas, bridge illumination, and other electrical infrastructure to support operations and enhance safety.
The bridges will span the Mahadev, Ganeshwari, Someshwari, and Nitai rivers, directly connecting currently isolated areas to the national transport network.
Climate resilience and sustainability
Designed for Bangladesh’s climate vulnerabilities, the bridges will incorporate flood- and erosion-resistant features.
The project also includes the preparation of climate-adaptive bridge design guidelines through specialised consultancy services, a necessity for Bangladesh, which remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
About 41.7 hectares of land will be acquired, with comprehensive resettlement and compensation programmes planned to uphold environmental and social safeguards.
Financing and oversight
Of the Tk3,745.98 crore cost, Tk895.22 crore will come from the government and Tk2,850.76 crore ($233.67 million) as a loan from the IsDB.
Oversight will be provided by the Planning Commission, the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and local administrations.
Officials expect the project to stimulate economic revitalisation by improving access to tourist destinations like Birishiri and Someshwari Valley while fostering local and cross-border trade.
“This project represents a major step toward equitable development and strategic connectivity in Bangladesh’s underdeveloped northern belt,” a senior Planning Commission official said. “It aligns with the government’s vision of inclusive infrastructure, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.”