Narinjara News


Burma  Bangladesh Friendship Bridge in the offing

Dhaka, 24^th March: Following his return to Dhaka from Rangoon Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda in a press conference said that a bridge connecting with Burma is the highest priority, according to the Bengali language daily Janakantha, 23^rd March.

The proposed bridge between Gundung on Bangladesh side and Taungbro on Burmese side will span the common Naaf River.  A road from Taungbro to Buthidaung, when constructed, will complete the road link to Rangoon from Dhaka, he said.

The communications minister said that he has prioritised the matter of construction of the bridge as Number One agenda and a survey team would be sent there in ten days.  He also quoted part of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s speech in Rangoon during her latest visit that Bangladesh has initiated certain measures such as establishment of a river port in Teknaf and Accounts Trade Agreement.

On 19^th of this month, the two countries agreed to establish a road link between Dhaka and Rangoon for easy communication and increase people-to-people contact while the Prime Minister of Bangladesh was on a tour to the capital of Burma.  The name of the road was agreed to be called as ‘Myanmar  Bangladesh Friendship Road.’  The major decision on the road was reached at the official round of talks between the two prime ministers of Bangladesh and Burma.  In presence of the two premieres the two communications ministers from the two countries signed two MoUs on Account Trade and establishment of Joint Trade Commission, at the Parliament Building (Pyithu Hluttaw). Another MoU on coastal shipping was signed the following day.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh M Morshed Khan said in Rangoon on 19^th March that construction of the proposed Friendship Road and bridge over the River Naaf would commence within months and is expected to be completed in this year.

The communications minister stressed that the construction of the road would be completed at the earliest so that the Prime Minister could make her next trip to Rangoon on this road.  #