|
An inter-ministerial meeting today (Thursday) is likely to take a crucial decision on joining the Asian Highway (AH) to save the country from being isolated from rest of the continent.
"Bangladesh has been left with no other option but to ratify the AH treaty after the country is given next December as deadline for joining the multinational project," said a senior communication ministry official.
If Bangladesh fails to meet the deadline, it may miss the chance of getting linked with the AH that will cover some 140,000 kilometres of road network connecting 32 Asian countries -- from Tokyo to Ankara.
Bangladesh always prefers AH 41, a regional route, among three proposed routes. But the country wants the AH 41 route that exits through Ukiah and Teknaf points into Myanmer should be recognised as part of the international highways.
The inter-ministerial meeting under the Communication Minister Nazmul Huda, might take a decision to pursue the authorities concerned for recognising the route as part of the international highway.
There are also two proposed routes -- AH1 and AH2 -- which pass through Bangladesh. The entry and exits points of both the routes have been shown in India.
The country has long been urging the Asian Highway authority to upgrade the AH 41 route that links Bangladesh with others East Asian nations through Myanmar, the official said.
"The AH authority suggested Bangladesh to ratify the accord first and then raise the route upgradation issue," he added.
Last June, a cabinet meeting turned down a proposal by the communication ministry to join the AH and advised the ministry to make more critical analysis of the project.
Later, the communication ministry has sought opinion from the concerned ministries. Most of ministries favour joining the proposed AH so that Bangladesh does not face isolation from the international world.
So far, 27 out of 32 member countries including Japan, China, India, Malaysia, Pakistan Iran and Turkey joined the Highway. All the South Asian nations excepting Bangladesh have already signed the inter-governmental agreement last year.
Besides, the opinions of the ministries, including foreign ministry, have strongly recommended joining the AH so that the country's 'Look East Policy' becomes strengthened.
Under the 'Look East Policy' the country has already taken some initiative to establish road link between Bangladesh and Myanmar bilaterally. The upgradation of the AH41 will uphold the country's cause effectively.
The AH project is regarded as one of the three pillars of Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development (ALTID), comprising Asian Highway, Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) and facilitation of land transport project.
The proposed AH will cover 23695 kilometres road network in South East Asia, 50422 in East and North-East Asia, 20616 in South Asia and 46471 in North Central and South-West Asia.
The AH project was initiated in 1959 with the aim of promoting the development of international road network in the region. During the first phase of the project in 1960s and 1970s considerable progress was made.
However, the pace of progress slowed down when financial assistance was suspended in 1975.
The mega project was revived in 2003 as the Inter-governmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network was adopted at an Inter-governmental Meeting in Seoul in 2001.
About 55 AH routes among 32 member countries have been identified so far.
|