Govt plans to widen Mymensingh-Bhairab highway to four lanes

The long-awaited economic corridor of the country's northeastern region, the Mymensingh-Kishoreganj-Bhairab National Highway (N-360), is finally set to see the light of day.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has directed the authorities to take up and implement projects with modern facilities, including service roads, underpasses, overpasses and others, to quickly upgrade the highway to four lanes.

If this plan is implemented, it will usher in a new era in the connectivity of Greater Mymensingh, Kishoreganj's haor area and the Dhaka-Sylhet economic belt, according to those concerned.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute, Md. Shariful Alam recently submitted a DO letter to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. In that letter, the Bhairab-Kishoreganj-Mymensingh Highway was mentioned as the main artery directly connecting the northeastern region with the Dhaka-Sylhet National Highway and the Asian Highway, and a strong demand was made to upgrade it to four lanes immediately. In view of this, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges directed the authorities to take necessary measures immediately.

State Minister Shariful Alam said in this regard, "The Bhairab-Kishoreganj-Mymensingh Highway is playing a very important role in the regional and national communication system. This road, which is about 120 kilometres long, passes through four upazilas of Mymensingh district and six upazilas of Kishoreganj district. It was upgraded to a national highway on August 19, 2025. In the current reality, the construction of a modern four-lane road with service roads, underpasses, overpasses and separate lanes is now the imperative demand of the time."

Experts say that the Bhairab-Mymensingh highway is not just a regional road, but also one of the main arteries of the economic flow of the northeastern region of the country. Thousands of passenger buses, trucks, covered vans carrying goods and vehicles transporting agricultural products ply on this road every day. This highway is playing a very important role in connecting Mymensingh division with important economic corridors of the country, including Chittagong Seaport, Akhaura Land Port and Tamabil Land Port.

Especially the people of the vast areas of Kishoreganj's haor areas - Nikli, Mithamoin, Itna, Ashtagram - are completely dependent on the Bhairab-Mymensingh road for commuting to Dhaka. In addition, this highway is playing an essential role in transporting agricultural products, fish, milk, vegetables and industrial products from these regions.

But now, the traffic pressure on this narrow and dangerous highway has increased significantly. As a result, long traffic jams, slow movement and fatal accidents often occur. Local residents say that the suffering on this road becomes terrible during Eid or major holidays.

Abdul Qadir, a businessman from Karimganj upazila in Kishoreganj, said, "It often takes three to four hours to travel from Bhairab to Mymensingh. If the road is upgraded to four lanes, not only will business and commerce increase, but it will also save people's time and money."

Saiful Islam, a resident and teacher of the Gouripur area of ​​Mymensingh, said, "Accidents on this road are now a daily occurrence. Especially the narrow market areas and bends are very risky. The safety of the general public will be ensured if there is an overpass and service road."

According to economists and development analysts, the construction of a four-lane road will create new momentum in the tourism, agriculture and industrial sectors of Mymensingh division. The Garo Hills, Haor areas, and Muktagachha traditional tourist areas and various agro-based industries can further develop due to easy connectivity.

Mymensingh Divisional Press Club General Secretary, Md. Nazrul Islam said, "This road needed to be upgraded to four lanes long ago. This timely initiative of the government has been welcomed by the people of the greater Mymensingh and Kishoreganj regions. If it is implemented, the economy of the northeastern region will gain new momentum."

Md. Ataur Rahman, Additional Chief Engineer of the Mymensingh Zone of the Roads and Highways Department, said, "This highway is very important in the communication system of the northeastern region of the country. It has already been declared a national highway. Further necessary measures will be taken as per the instructions of the ministry to upgrade it to a full four-lane road."

Local people believe that if the project is approved and implemented quickly, it will not only improve the communication system, but also bring about massive positive changes in the fields of education, health, agriculture, industry and trade. According to experts, an improved and safe road system forms the basis for the overall development of a region. In that regard, if the Mymensingh-Kishoreganj-Bhairab Highway four-lane upgrade project is implemented, it can play a groundbreaking role in the socio-economic development of the northeastern region of the country.

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