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Published : 13 Jun 2026, 11:00 PM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram Highway will be upgraded to a six-lane motorway, describing it as a key route for the region’s economic development.
Speaking at a public rally in Chakaria on Saturday night, the prime minister said work would soon begin to expand the four-lane highway to six lanes.
He said the government was working to change the “fortune of farmers and all citizens” through implementation of the proposed national budget.
“By implementing the new budget for the coming fiscal year, we are working to change the fate of farmers and the people of this country,” he said.
The rally was held at a stage set up outside the municipal bus terminal under the banner of the local BNP.
The prime minister arrived at the venue after attending other programmes in Cox’s Bazar.
Thousands of people had gathered since the afternoon to hear him speak.
Tarique said he had discussed the road condition with senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed while travelling from the airport.
“On the way from the airport, I asked Mr Salahuddin Ahmed where this straight road leads. He told me it goes directly to Chattogram. I told him this road looked exactly the same as it did 25 years ago when I last saw it,” he said.
“But I believe this is an important road for the economic development of this region. It should at least be a four to six-lane highway. We will, inshallah, begin work on this soon.”
Earlier in the day, Tarique arrived in Cox’s Bazar by air with his wife Zubaida Rahman.
He inaugurated the re-excavation of the Patili Canal and attended a civic reception.
He later visited the Dulahazara Safari Park and launched a nationwide tree plantation programme of 2.5 billion trees from the Malumghat reserved forest.
He also visited the grave of slain July Uprising protester Md Wasim Akram in Pekua Upazila before laying foundation stones for the newly formed Pekua municipality and Matamuhuri Upazila.
Following the Chakaria rally, he is scheduled to attend a civic reception at Long Beach Hotel in Cox’s Bazar before returning to Dhaka by air.
After more than a decade and a half in London, Tarique Rahman returned to the country on Dec 25 last year.
This is his first visit to Cox’s Bazar since assuming office following BNP’s landslide victory in the Feb 12 election.
