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The government has listed several projects in the proposed budget to develop the communications sector, including 3,000km of expressways, a modern public transport network with six metro rail lines, and a cordline on the Dhaka-Cumilla section of the Dhaka-Chattogram Railway.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury proposed a budget of Tk 9.38 trillion for the 2026-27 fiscal year, where he proposed to allocate Tk 607.3 billion for developing communication infrastructure in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The revised budget allocation for this sector for the fiscal year 2025-26 was Tk 482.92 billion, and it has been proposed to increase that allocation by Tk 124.38 billion, a 25.75 percent hike.

The finance minister said the government is implementing integrated infrastructure development programmes to accelerate the country’s economic growth, modernise the communication system, and increase the efficiency of the urban transport system.

The government has also taken initiatives to build a safe, environment-friendly, and technology-based transport system.

Khosru highlighted the government's ongoing development projects and future work, including:

Road Transport

- Upgrading highways and important economic corridors to four lanes and building a multimodal hub through an integrated communication structure

- Implementing 94 development projects to strengthen road safety

- Strengthening the automated fitness certificate system and training initiatives for professional drivers

- Identifying potential corridors to build a national expressway grid of about 3,000km

- Reducing traffic congestion in Dhaka by building ring roads and radial roads

- Developing a modern public transport network consisting of six metro rail lines and building a monorail-based feeder network connected to the metro rail

- Replacing old buses with electric buses in phases

- Taking up plans to build the second Jamuna Bridge, the third Meghna Bridge and the Dhaka-Chattogram Elevated Expressway.

Railway Development

Khosru said the government is implementing development activities to increase the capacity of railways and expand inter-country connections to build a safe, modern, and efficient rail communication system.

“Steps have been taken to make the railways more effective and technology-based in the transport of passengers and goods,” he added.

He also spoke about the government’s plans surrounding the railway sector, which include:

- Bringing every district under the railway network and expanding rail connectivity with ports

- Procurement of modern locomotives, carriages and wagons

- Increasing the capacity of Saidpur and Pahartali railway workshops and adding coaches and locomotives locally

- Construction of dual-gauge double lines and introduction of modern signalling systems

- Plans to introduce electric traction and high-speed rail connections

- The construction of a cordline on the Dhaka-Cumilla section of the Dhaka-Chattogram Railway line, which will reduce the distance of this route by about 80km

- Establishment of the Dhaka-Chattogram Railway corridor and development of Chattogram as a logistics hub.

Water Transport

The minister said the government is undertaking different initiatives to improve shipping infrastructure, modernise ports, and enhance inland waterway capacity to create a cost-effective, safe, and efficient transport system. These include:

- Strengthening infrastructure development in the shipping sector and the development activities of inland waterways

- Expansion of dredging activities and improvement of container and cargo handling skills

- Modernisation of river ports and launch wharves

- Increasing international trade and transshipment capacity through the implementation of the Matarbari deep-sea port

- Addition of new equipment, development of jetty management, and strengthening of cargo handling activities have been done to increase the capacity of Mongla Port

- Construction of Chattogram Bay Terminal, Patenga Container Terminal, and Laldia Container Terminal

- Dredging and excavation activities have been strengthened in important waterways to keep them operational

- Strengthening international trade and the integrated shipping system through the construction of modern port infrastructure