The transport sector of Bangladesh consists of a variety of modes. The country being a flat plain, all three modes of surface transport, i.e. road, railway and water are widely used in carrying both passengers and cargo.
More than half of Bangladesh have access to an all-weather hard surface road within 3 miles distance. There has been a dramatic expansion of road network in recent years. In 1947 there were only 461.8 kilometers of metalled roads. In 1997, the total length of paved road under the Roads and Highways Department stood at more than 20,000 kilometers. It is estimated that mechanized road transport carry about 70% of the country’s total passenger and cargo volume.
In recent years. construction of a number of bridges such as the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge, Meghna Bridge. Meghna-Gumti Bridge, Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, Shambhuganj Bridge and Mahananda Bridge have been completed. The 4.8 km long Bangabandhu Bridge which has been opened to traffic in June, 1998, is the eleventh longest in the world. It has established a strategic link between the East and the West of Bangladesh has integrated the country, is generating multifaceted benefits to the people and promoting inter-regional trade. Apart from quick movement of goods and passenger traffic, it is faci1itating transmission of electricity and natural gas and has integrated the telecommunication links.
About 32% of the total area of Bangladesh is effectively covered by the railways. State-owned Bangladesh Railway operates a track of 2706 kilometer, employs about 60,000 people, owns a fleet of 307 locomotives, 1240 coaching vehicles and I L643 freight wagons, and provides passenger and cargo services through 502 stations.
About two-thirds of Bangladesh is a wetland laced with a dense network of rivers, canals and creeks. Water transport is the only means available in nearly 10% of’ the total area. The navigable waterways vary between 8372 kilometer during the monsoon to 5200 kilometer during the dry season. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has been established by the government for maintenance of navigability of ports and channels while the state-owned BIWTC provide passenger and cargo services in inland waterways and coastal areas of the country.
The entire coast along the Bay of Bengal is 710 kilometer long. There are two major ports in the country. Chittagong, the oldest port, has been an entry-port for at least 1000 years. The Mongla port in Khulna region serves the western part of Bangladesh.
There are now 11 operational airports in Bangladesh. These are Dhaka, Barisal. Chittagomig. Comilla, Cox’ s Bazar, Ishurdi, Jessore, Rajshahi, Syedpur, Sylhet and Thakurgaon. Of these, the airports at Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet serve international routes. Air careo and Short Take-oft and Landing (STOL) services have been opened to the private sector by the government.
The Civil Aviation Authority is a public sector entity entrusted to construct, maintain and supervise airports and regulate air traffic. The national flag carrier Biman flies to 26 international and 8 domestic destinations.
Post and Telecommunication
Despite transportation handicaps in the rural areas, the postal system in Bangladesh is quite efficient. The domestic postal network consists of 45,000 kilometer routes. Overseas postal links exist with all countries recognized by Bangladesh. Apart from traditional services, the post-offices in Bangladesh also transfer money from one station to another. Postal life insurance and banking services to small depositors in rural areas are also provided. Five mobile post offices have been introduced in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet towns. The public sector postal services are run by the state-owned Postal Department.
Whereas there were one telephone for 770 persons a decade ago, the ratio is now around 250 per telephone. A Nationwide dialing system has linked 64 major towns in the country. International telephone links are provided through earth satellite stations. VHF wireless stations have been set up to ensure continuous linkage with remote areas of the country. A teleprinter exchange has been set up in Dhaka. There are 843 public telegraph offices in the country.
Till recently, the telecommunication sector in Bangladesh was a government monopoly. Now the private sector has been allowed to sell telephone services through cellular systems and rural networks. Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board is the government agency responsible for this sector. The state- owned Telephone Shilpa Sangstha produces Telephone sets and exchanges.
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