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aims to upgrade the existing 110km two-lane Bhomra-Satkhira-Navaron and Jashore-Jhenaidah roads, said a press release of the World Bank.

In the current phase, the project will help upgrade the 48km two-lane Jashore-Jhenaidah road to a modern four-lane highway, it said.

Besides, the project will also help revitalise about 600km connecting rural roads, develop existing rural markets or build new ones. It will also set up fiber-optic cables along the highway to ensure fast and reliable internet service, the WB press release added.

The project will be implemented by the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) and Local Government Division (LGD), said ERD.

The project was approved by the World Bank Board on June 23 last year and the government’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on November 24. The closing date of this project is December 31, 2026.

Yesterday, ERD Secretary Fatima Yasmin and the World Bank’s Dhaka office Country Director Mercy Miyang Tembon signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

In the signing ceremony that was held at the ERD office, Fatima Yasmin said, “Improvement in the logistics and transport in the western districts will further help accelerate economic growth and development for the entire country.”

Addressing the function, Mercy Miyang Tembon said, “With better connectivity and logistics, farmers will be able to reach new and existing markets faster while spending less. It will also lower the loss from spoilage of perishable goods.” The World Bank press release cited the comments of the two officials.

Earlier in 2012, the World Bank withdrew its $1.2 billion loan for the construction of Padma Bridge over allegations of corruption conspiracies. The government refutes the allegations and is building the bridge without support from the WB.