Transport in Bangladesh
Transport in Bangladesh is dominated by roadways, accounting for the majority of both passenger and cargo traffic due to substantial development efforts since independence.
Eight major national highways connect the capital, Dhaka, with divisional and district headquarters, port cities, and international routes.
The share of railway traffic has seen a significant decline since 1975, facing challenges like shortage of rolling stock and poor track conditions.
[4] There are eight major national highways, linking the capital with various divisional and district headquarters, port cities, and international routes.
[5][6] The Dhaka–Chittagong highway (N1) is regarded as the lifeline of the country’s trade and commerce, connecting the capital, Dhaka, with the primary port city of Chittagong.
[8][9] Three Asian Highway routes pass through Bangladesh, with parts of the network undergoing upgrades to meet international standards.
[12] Despite significant growth in the number of motor vehicles, Bangladesh's transportation demand continues to be predominantly met by non-motorised modes, especially walking and rickshaws.
[13] Bangladesh has one of the highest road accident fatality rates globally,[14] with estimates from non-governmental sources reaching as high as 25,000 deaths in 2019, although official government figures are much lower.
Major contributing factors include a mix of diverse traffic, inadequate enforcement of laws, poor road conditions, and a lack of formal training and education.
[13] Road safety concerns have sparked significant movements, such as Nirapad Sarak Chai,[17] and mass protests, primarily led by students.
[32] Traffic congestion varies during the day, necessitating planning and longer trips; this impacts productivity, cutting across social and economic status.
[34] In Bangladesh, pollution severity is exacerbated by a large number of high-polluting vehicles, impure fuel, inefficient land use, and poor traffic management.
[39] Rajshahi ranked the fourth noisiest in the world,[37] while noise levels are also above acceptable limits in other cities like Chittagong,[40] Sylhet,[41] Comilla,[42] and Khulna.
[50] New legislation drafted in 2024 as a successor to a centuries-old law includes provisions allowing private companies to own rolling stock for carrying passengers, goods, and parcels.
[51]Bangladesh Railway has approximately 3,100 kilometres (1,900 mi) of main and branch lines (route km) linking 43 of the 64 districts.
[45] The combined Bangabandhu Bridge, opened in 1998, connects the eastern and western rail networks, which were previously separated by the Jamuna River.
[60][needs update] Railway penetration has been relatively low in the riverine south-western regions of the Ganges Delta, particularly from the capital and the north-east, due to the Padma River acting as a barrier.
As part of the project, it planned to extend the railway from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar, with the eventual goal of connecting to Myanmar.
[73] Hazrat Shahjalal processed about 96 per cent of the total air freight,[71] handling a daily average of 400 to 500 tonnes of cargo.
Cox’s Bazar, a destination that accounts for the bulk of domestic airline revenue, has also seen a decline in air passengers due to a new railway link opened in 2023.
However, this period has also witnessed the closure of at least eight private airlines, the most recent being Regent Airways in 2022, primarily due to financial difficulties.
However, this number has been in decline,[92] particularly following the opening of the Padma Bridge in 2022, which significantly reduced travel time between south-western Bangladesh and the capital, Dhaka, by road and rail.
Passenger ferries, locally referred to as "launches," are widely used to travel to the southern and south-western regions of Bangladesh from the capital.
[99] More than 800,000[92] small and medium wooden sailboats and rowboats, often retrofitted to be motorised,[100] are an important means of transportation for people and goods across the country, especially during the rainy season.
Ubiquitous throughout Bangladesh, especially in monsoon flood-prone regions, is the kosha, a small, highly manoeuvrable boat that is easy to operate.
These various traditional wooden boats play a vital role in providing transportation during the rainy season when other modes become impractical due to flooding.
[103] Bangladesh has 22 major river ports used for loading and unloading passengers and goods, as well as for landing motorised marine vessels.
[104] Chittagong is the busiest sea port in Bangladesh, handling 92 per cent of the country's international cargo, followed by Mongla[105] and Payra.
[108] In the same year, the first under-sea pipeline to transport crude oil and diesel from a deep-sea mooring, spanning 110 kilometres (68 mi), was commissioned.
