Sylhet, Sept 27 (V7N) – The Dhaka-Sylhet six-lane highway is expected to be fully completed by the middle of 2029, while the new shape of the highway will become visible within the next 12 months, Commerce, Industry and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said on Saturday.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Sylhet Metropolitan Business Unity Welfare Council at the Kushiyara Convention Hall in Chandipul, South Surma.
The minister outlined various government initiatives and plans concerning road and rail connectivity, ease of doing business, industrial development and security in Sylhet.
Muktadir said the government was giving the highest priority to expediting construction of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
He also said an initiative had been taken to upgrade the existing road from Fenchuganj through Moulvibazar into a new four-lane highway.
On railway connectivity, the minister said the Cabinet had given in-principle approval for constructing a dual-gauge railway line from Akhaura to Sylhet.
He added that steps were also being taken to improve the Sylhet-Chattogram rail route by removing existing gaps in the network. This would enable products manufactured in Sylhet to be transported to Chattogram Port more quickly, he said.
On improving the business environment, Muktadir said the government was working to simplify and speed up procedures related to setting up new companies, obtaining trade licences and clearances, and opening letters of credit for importing machinery under import registration certificates.
He said efforts were underway to reduce the time required for starting a business from 355 days to 14 working days.
The minister also said a new Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) industrial estate would be developed on 188 acres of land in South Surma to support the growth of cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs). Development work on the project is expected to begin this year, he said.
On law and order and urban security, Muktadir said strict action would be taken against drugs and online gambling in Sylhet.
He said the Sylhet City Corporation and Sylhet Metropolitan Police had taken an initiative to bring the city under advanced CCTV surveillance equipped with drones, facial-recognition technology and infrared capabilities.
He added that face recognition and fingerprint-based online verification were also being introduced in various government services, including services provided by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), as part of efforts to modernise public services and prevent corruption.
Muktadir further said an initiative had been taken, in coordination with the ICT adviser, to establish an international-standard artificial intelligence (AI) training centre in Sylhet to equip young freelancers with modern technology skills.
The event was attended by MP Advocate Emran Ahmed Chowdhury, Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qayum Chowdhury, Sylhet Development Authority Chairman Rezaul Hasan Koyes Lodi, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sarwar Morshed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun and District Council Administrator Abul Kaher Chowdhury Shamim, among others.
Political and business leaders were also present at the programme.
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