Development work is going on all over
the Sylhet division. Efforts are being made to change Sylhet by implementing
some mega projects. Several projects are implementing with the efforts of the
local people's representatives to build a better enlightened Sylhet. Some
projects have already been completed. Some are under implementation and some
are waiting to start. The peoples think that the whole Sylhet division will
change if the ongoing and pending projects are implemented.
Mega projects in Sylhet:
Mega projects undertaken for the development of Sylhet region include Sylhet Medical University, Sylhet Cricket Stadium-2 (Divisional Outer Stadium), Expansion and Modernization of Osmani International Airport, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hitech Park, Sylhet-Dhaka Six Lane Highway, Sylhet-Tamabil Four Lane Highway, Sylhet Marine Academy, Sheikh Russell Textile Engineering College, Sylhet Textile Institute, Digital City Project, Excavation and Bank Conservation of 114 Rivers, Bangabandhu Multipurpose Complex, New BSIC Industrial City, Road and Drain Expansion, Beautification and Modernization projects.
Initiatives were taken to set up new medical universities to enhance the quality of higher education, research and services and to expand and develop existing facilities. Sylhet Medical University was established for this purpose. It is the fourth government medical university in the country. The process of acquiring 83 acres of land in South Surma for a permanent campus has started. Another mega project in the field of education 'Sylhet Marine Academy' has already been implemented. The academy has been set up on a 10-acre land on the banks of the Chenger canal in Badaghat area of Hatkhola union in Sylhet Sadar upazila at a cost of Taka 107 crore. On May 6, 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the academy.
Besides, Sheikh Russell Textile
Engineering College and Sylhet Textile Institute are being constructed on 10
acres of land in Tayab Sultan Mouza of Kuchai Union in South Surma for the
development of technical education in Sylhet at the initiative of the Ministry
of Textiles and Jute. On 1st November, 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid
the foundation stone of these projects. The cost of the two projects has been
estimated at around Tk 210 crore. Of these, Sheikh Russell Textile Engineering
College is being built on 5 acres of land at a cost of Tk 110.36 crore and
Sylhet Textile Institute is being built on 5 acres of land at a cost of Tk
95.65 crore.
The communication system is going to be the most developed during the tenure of the present government. Development projects have been taken in parallel by road, air, rail and waterways. The Sylhet-Dhaka six lane highway project is finally going to start after overcoming many complications. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already approved a loan of over Tk 15,000 crore for the project. The total cost of the project has been estimated at more than Tk 17,000 crore. The project was approved by the ECNEC in February this year. If the highway is upgraded to six lanes, the economy here will change. Industry and tourism will get new momentum.
The Dhaka - Sylhet six lane highway is expected to open new horizons of trade potential with the northeastern states of India. In addition to this highway, the four lane upgrade project of Sylhet - Tamabil highway has already been approved by ECNEC. It will be financed by the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Out of the proposed cost of Tk 3,586 crore, Tk 615.48 crore will be spent from the government's own funds and Tk 2,970.55 crore from AIIB loans. If this highway is upgraded to four lanes, import and export with India through Tamabil land port will increase. At the same time, the tourism sector in Sylhet will also see a huge improvement.
Initiatives have been taken to convert the meter-gauge railway in Sylhet-Akhaura section to dual-gauge with the long efforts of Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen in railway development. If the project is implemented, the rail communication system with Sylhet-Dhaka and Sylhet-Chittagong will be greatly improved. Travel time will also decrease. Mega projects have been taken up for the development of roads and railways as well as waterways. The foreign minister had sent a proposal to the shipping minister to dig 114 numbers of small and big rivers in Sylhet division to increase the use of waterways and control floods. The Ministry of Shipping has taken initiative to rescue, excavate and conserve the river.
Mega project has been taken to upgrade
Sylhet Osmani International Airport to a full-fledged international airport. Two
projects have been taken for the development of the airport at a cost of Tk
2,568 crore. Of this, the runway is being upgraded at a cost of Tk 452 crore.
The work of this project is almost at the last stage. Besides, a full-fledged
international terminal with modern facilities is being constructed at a cost of
BDT 2,116 crore. New cargo houses have been constructed and scanners have been
installed at the airport. The project includes modern ATC towers, taxiways and
aprons, modern fire stations, new boarding bridges, baggage handling systems,
flight information display systems and other state-of-the-art terminal building
related equipment. If the Tk 2,500 crore project is implemented, Osmani Airport
will be used as a hub for air communication.
Several big projects have also been taken up in Sylhet to increase industrialization and employment. Among them, 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park' is being implemented in the colorful area of Companiganj in Sylhet. The construction of ICT Park is progressing fast. Meanwhile, the work of filling up the project, flood control dam, visual bridge, installation of internal roads and lights, construction of electrical substation, project site office, administrative building, ICT Business Center, Sheikh Kamal IT Training Institute is nearing completion. Though construction of 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park' has started on 175 acres of land, a proposal has already been sent to the ministry to acquire more 85 acres of land as the demand of entrepreneurs and investors is increasing day by day.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSIC) have taken initiative to set up another new industrial city in Sylhet for the development of small scale industries. It will be the third industrial park in Sylhet. A project has been taken to set up this industrial park on 500 acres of land. BSCIC Sylhet Office said priority would be given to agro-machinery, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, jute and jute products, leather processing products, handicrafts, plastics and women entrepreneurs in the eco-friendly industrial park. Priority will also be given to light engineering institutes.
Another new government hospital is being built in Sylhet to develop the health sector. Construction of a new 250-bed Sylhet District Hospital at Chauhatta in the metropolis is in full swing. During the tenure of the present government, huge development has been achieved in the stadium of Sylhet. Another new stadium has been built next to the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium at a cost of around BDT 25 crore. Known as Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Ground-2, the stadium was officially inaugurated about six months ago. The ICC had been asked to approve the recognition as an international venue. Built on about 3 acres of land, the stadium has been turned into a full-fledged sports complex.
The economy of Sylhet is the fourth
largest in the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. In recent years, Sylhet is
experiencing major infrastructural developments, and projected to be the
forefront of Bangladesh's economic growth.
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