BD, Myanmar fail to sign deal on road

Published September 29, 2005

DHAKA, Sept 28: Bangladesh and Myanmar have failed to sign a deal for building a ‘Friendship Road’ as the two sides needed more consultations on the project.

The next round of negotiations would be held in Dhaka in November, Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin told reporters on Wednesday.

A delegation of Bangladesh, headed by the Commerce Secretary, Shafiqul Islam, went to Yangon last week to sign the accord on the direct road link.

The officials in Dhaka hinted that there might have been some small disagreements over the use of the first 23 kilometres of the road to be constructed with the finance from the Bangladesh government.

As per an earlier agreement, Dhaka will finance the construction of the 23 kilometres of the road from Taungbro to Bawlibazar while Myanmar government ensures land for the trans-border road.

Myanmar will also waive taxes for all construction equipment and supplies. Under a comprehensive deal, they will allow Bangladeshi vehicles to use the road free of taxes and levies.

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....