Developing Integrated Multimodal Transportation Networks in Bangladesh with Regional Connectivity: Key Issues and Challenges

As part of the Asian Highway and Trans-Asian Railway Networks, and also as a member country of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Bangladesh can able to expand trades with neighboring countries as well as other Asian nations by developing well connected and integrated multimodal transportation networks. However, currently Bangladesh lacks well developed integrated multimodal transportation networks. Due to a disproportionately high investment in the road sector, road becomes the dominant mode of transport with a modal share of over 70 percent, while the investments in the railway and inland waterway sectors (though, they are relatively safe, cost economic and environmentally friendly modes) are consistently very minimal. Being a riverine country with nearly 700 rivers including tributaries, the waterways could be developed well. In Bangladesh, transport infrastructure projects (e.g., rail, road, and inland waterways) are identified and selected independently along modal lines through separate ministries in association with the Ministry of Planning without a comprehensive, coordinated and continuous multimodal transportation planning process and the selected projects are funded under the annual development program (ADP) in each fiscal year. Due to very limited financial resources for the infrastructure development projects, Bangladesh heavily relies on international development partners (e.g., World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monitory Fund, etc) to bridge the fiscal gap while compromising the development priorities and needs. In light of the above discussions, this paper addresses key issues and challenges toward developing integrated multimodal national transportation networks with an emphasis to regional connectivity. Particularly, the paper addresses issues with the planning process, governance, and institutions, funding/financing, and integrated multi-modal development.