Prominent citizens, socio-political organisations and business leaders from the southern region of Bangladesh have renewed their demand for the urgent upgrade of the Bhanga-Kuakata highway to a six-lane route, citing the need to integrate Barishal division and adjacent districts more effectively with the capital and the national economy.
Despite the transformative impact of the Padma Bridge in linking the southern districts with Dhaka and other regions, stakeholders say the absence of the Bhanga-Kuakata six-lane project in the 2024-25 national budget has shocked the people of Barishal division. They argue that enhanced road connectivity is vital to realising the economic potential of this resource-rich but infrastructure-poor region.
Leaders of Barisal Zela Samity, along with various socio-cultural and political groups, have demanded special budget allocations in the upcoming fiscal year for the construction of the six-lane highway. They have also called for the establishment of an agricultural university and a rural development academy to accelerate growth in agriculture and rural innovation.
Dr Enayet Karim, President of Barisal Zela Samity in Dhaka and the Global Economists Forum, told The Daily Industry that Barishal plays a critical role in the national GDP through its thriving fisheries sector, contributing over 22 percent from this industry alone. He noted that the region is also a major supplier of fruits like guava, coconut, and hog plum.
“Barishal was once known as the granary of Bengal, but it is now losing that status due to increasing river erosion and lack of investment in infrastructure,” he said, emphasising the urgency of upgrading the Bhanga-Kuakata highway to encourage industrialisation and reduce poverty.
Echoing his views, AKM Azizur Rahman, Chairman of Khansons Group, urged the government to extend gas supply pipelines from Bhola to spur industrial development and create employment opportunities in the division.
The demands also include allocation for long-awaited bridge projects, including the Bhola-Barishal bridge and the Patharghata bridge on the Amtoli-Payra-Barguna route-initiatives that locals believe are crucial for regional integration and economic uplift.
With a population of over 8.3 million spread across six districts-Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna, Jhalakathi, and Pirojpur-the division is crisscrossed by major rivers like the Meghna, Arialkha, and Kirtonkhola, making modern infrastructure essential for ensuring mobility and market access.
Though Barishal leads the nation in literacy, residents point out that economic disparity, rising poverty, and high unemployment persist. They say without mega infrastructure projects, the region risks falling further behind.
In the FY2024-25 Annual Development Programme (ADP), the government allocated Tk 2,88,288.90 crore, but residents say that without equitable distribution based on population and contribution to the GDP, Barishal will continue to face structural neglect.
The growing chorus of voices from the southern belt sends a clear message to policymakers: without strategic investments in connectivity and development, the vision of a balanced and inclusive economy will remain incomplete.
