Dhaka, Oct 9, 2025 : The government is preparing a Multimodal Transport Plan aimed at creating a coordinated, cost-effective and time-efficient national transportation system by integrating road, rail,and waterway networks.
Sheik Moinuddin, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, confirmed that the draft plan is nearing completion, saying about 70 to 75 percent of the work is expected to be done before the current government’s term ends.
“The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges is leading the initiative,” Moinuddin told BSS. “It involves mapping existing routes, collecting data on goods and passenger movements, and identifying infrastructure gaps to prioritise investments and determine the most efficient transport modes.”
To ensure global standards, the government is working closely with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank, who will provide guidance based on international best practices.
Moinuddin said the current phase focuses on integrating road, rail, and waterways, linking ports, local trade hubs, export processing zones, and tourism areas. However, aviation—particularly for goods transport—remains excluded for now, as it is still considered a developing sector.
He explained that a key goal of the plan is to align all future infrastructure projects with a single national transport master plan, reducing duplication and inefficiency. “The biggest challenge today is the lack of coordination among agencies,” he said.
To address this, Moinuddin proposed bringing all transport-related bodies — including Inland Waterways, Roads and Highways, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), and Aviation — under one administrative framework.
Citing an example of current planning issues, he mentioned Dhaka Airport, where travelers face difficulties due to the absence of public transport links. “Future plans will fix this by extending the Metro Rail and establishing organized bus and taxi stands at the airport,” he added.
