News Flash
SANGSAD BHABAN, June 28, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Road Transport and Railways Habibur Rashid today said the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 has earmarked substantial allocations for the development of the roads and railway sectors, with a series of major projects set to modernise, improve safety and enhance the country's transport network.
Taking part in the general discussion on the proposed national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad, he said around Tk 36,917 crore has been allocated for the Road Transport and Highways Division, including Tk 30,741 crore for development activities. A total of 106 development projects are currently under implementation across the country.
The state minister said the government plans to construct 3,000 kilometres of modern and safe expressways, which would accelerate trade, industrialisation, tourism and overall connectivity nationwide.
Highlighting measures to ease traffic congestion in the capital, he said the government has undertaken initiatives to relocate inter-district bus terminals from inside Dhaka to the city's outskirts. Alongside the metro rail, plans are also underway to introduce monorail services and electric vehicles.
He said the government is implementing a programme to develop 500,000 skilled drivers to build an efficient and environment-friendly transport system for the future.
Referring to the railway sector, Habibur Rashid said the proposed budget has allocated around Tk 9,941 crore for railways. A feasibility study is underway for the construction of the Dhaka-Cumilla chord line.
He said the government is also moving forward with plans to introduce internet services on every train, ensure the use of solar power at all railway stations, expand passenger services and add new locomotives and coaches to the railway fleet.
The state minister said the proposed Tk 938,000 crore national budget has been formulated with the goals of strengthening the economy, creating new employment opportunities and transforming Bangladesh into a US$1 trillion economy by 2034.
"This is not merely a statement of income and expenditure; it is a roadmap for Bangladesh's future development," he said.
Habibur Rashid highly praised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visits to Malaysia and China, saying the tours had elevated Bangladesh's diplomatic and economic relations to new heights while opening fresh opportunities for trade, investment, technology transfer and strategic cooperation.
Speaking about the development of his Dhaka-9 constituency, he said some areas still suffer from inadequate infrastructure, with residents depending on bamboo bridges. Thanking the prime minister, he said initiatives have been taken under his directive to upgrade Mugda Hospital from 500 to 1,000 beds.
He also urged the government to take necessary steps to further improve communication infrastructure in the area.
