By Al-Amin Shahriar

BHOLA, Oct 16, 2025 (BSS) –The southern coastal district of Bhola, long isolated by rivers and exposed to natural disasters, is experiencing a significant transformation following the upgrade of its 150-kilometre regional highway. 

The improved road now connects several upazilas and administrative police stations, ushering in a new era of connectivity, economic growth and improved quality of life for its 22 lakh residents.

Once considered one of the country’s most underdeveloped districts, Bhola faced severe challenges in transportation and communication. 
Travel between the district headquarters and upazilas like Charfesson  was extremely difficult due to conked out, narrow roads and inadequate bridges. 

In the past, journeys could take up to 8 hours and even then, few dared to travel due to the condition of the roads.

The turning point came when former minister and Dhaka city mayor Nazibur Rahman Manju took the initiative to include the Bhola–Charfesson route in the national highway development programme.
 
Since then, the road has been upgraded into a regional highway for the sake of national importance.

Fazlur Rahman Bachchu Molla, General Secretary of the Bhola Bus Owners’ Association, told BSS, “Today, travel from Bhola town to Charfesson  takes just one and a half hours. Luxury buses, goods laden trucks, fuel tankers and CNG-run vehicles now operate smoothly along this route, which was once almost out of use.”

Md Anwar Hossain, President of the Bhola Tank Lorry Owners’ Association, said the improved highway has significantly boosted fuel distribution across the district, saving time and improving supply chain efficiency.

Tourism is also seeing growth. Entrepreneur Morshed Alam Chan invested in resorts and entertainment facilities in the mangrove-rich Kukri-Mukri area of Charfesson . 

“Thanks to the new road, tourists are now coming from Dhaka and even abroad," he added.
 
Many positive things like  investments of local entrepreneurs, creating jobs and local economic development have happened, he said.

According to Md Maidul Islam, Executive Engineer of Bhola Roads and Highways Department, major infrastructure improvements have been made along the highway, including the replacement of four narrow Bailey bridges with modern PC girder bridges. 
These new structures now support up to 30 tons of load, compared to the earlier 5–7 tons. Additionally, 41 culverts have been built to improve drainage and road durability, he said.

Bhola Deputy Commissioner Md Azad Jahan told BSS that the district is moving toward becoming a regional economic hub.
 “The road connectivity, coupled with our vast natural gas reserves, positions Bhola for accelerated development. We are no longer an isolated district — we are a district of opportunity,” he said.

The transformation of this regional highway has done more than just improve transportation — it has changed the way people live and work in Bhola.

From easier travel and expanded trade to flourishing tourism and improved livelihoods, the road has paved the way for a better future for the people of this once-neglected coastal district.