DHAKA, July 00, 2026 (BSS) – The government has undertaken a Tk 1,492.50 crore project to upgrade rural transport infrastructure across the greater Dinajpur region in the northern Bangladesh, aiming to improve connectivity, accelerate economic activities and create employment opportunities in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts.

The Local Government Division under the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives will implement the project titled “Integrated Development Project for Greater Dinajpur (Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh)” through the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

The entire project cost of Tk 1,492.50 crore will be financed from the government’s own resources (GoB).

The project, which is scheduled to be implemented by June 30, 2030, was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its last meeting.

Talking to BSS, Planning Commission Member (Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division) Md. Mahmudul Hossain Khan said that the initiative is designed to strengthen rural connectivity by upgrading roads linking villages with markets, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and other service centres.

He said the project will facilitate the transportation and marketing of agricultural and non-agricultural products, reduce travel time and transport costs, improve access to public services and generate employment during both construction and operation phases.

Terming it as an ‘epoch-making’ scheme, the planning commission member informed that the rural roads, union roads and upazila roads under the LGED would be further developed and widened.

Under the project, LGED will develop 21.75 kilometres of upazila roads, 171.55 kilometres of union roads and 842.52 kilometres of village roads into all-weather standards. It will also construct 16 bridges with a combined length of 410 metres.

The project also includes more than 1.07 million cubic metres of earthwork, installation of 3,650 traffic signs, 7,300 guide posts, 14,900 metres of palisading, and 129,650 square metres of road markings to improve road safety and durability.

Talking to BSS, another planning commission official said rural poverty remains comparatively high as a large share of the population depends on agriculture and lacks adequate transport facilities. “The project was therefore proposed and thus approved by ECNEC to improve communication infrastructure and support overall socio-economic development in the region,”

The project will cover all upazilas of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts under Rangpur Division.

The commission said the improved road network would help farmers and traders transport local products more efficiently, including Dinajpur’s famous litchi and aromatic rice, Thakurgaon’s mangoes and Panchagarh’s tea, while also promoting tourism in the three districts, which are home to numerous archaeological and historical sites.

The project is also expected to improve access to education, healthcare and other public services, contributing to poverty reduction and higher living standards in rural communities.

A feasibility study conducted in 2025 by consulting firm MIRZA International found the project technically and economically viable and recommended its implementation.

Although no direct financial return is expected because of the project’s public service nature, the economic analysis found it to be viable with a Net Present Value (NPV) of Tk 674.99 crore, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 17.12 percent, and a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.32:1.

The planning commission said the project is aligned with the government’s election commitments to gradually pave all rural roads and ensure “last-mile” connectivity in remote areas. It also supports national goals of poverty reduction, agricultural development and employment generation.

In addition, the initiative contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly ending poverty, promoting sustainable agriculture and developing resilient infrastructure to support inclusive economic growth.

The project has already been included in the list of unapproved new projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2025-26.

The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), at its meeting held on March 2, 2026, recommended the proposal for approval after incorporating its observations.

The planning commission observed that implementation of the project would significantly improve rural transport infrastructure across Greater Dinajpur, facilitate economic and social activities, expand employment opportunities and accelerate poverty reduction.