Sheik Moinuddin, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser-File Photo

DHAKA, Oct 09, 2025 (BSS) – The government is working to adopt a multimodal transport plan, which is a strategic initiative designed to establish a coordinated and highly efficient national transportation system.

This plan aims to integrate road, rail and waterway networks to ensure cost and time-efficient transportation across the country.

Sheik Moinuddin, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, confirmed that the draft plan is nearing completion.

In an interview with BSS, he stated, "We expect to finish approximately 70 to 75 percent of the transport plan before our term ends.”

“The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges is leading the preparation efforts. The planning involves extensive data collection, including mapping existing routes and gathering information on goods and passenger movements. This process is crucial for identifying infrastructure gaps, prioritising investments, and determining the most efficient transport modes," Moinuddin explained.

To make the Multimodal Transport Plan a global standard, the government is involving the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank in the process, he said.   

“These international bodies are being included in the process so they will give their opinions as per the management of developed nations transportation systems”, he added.

He said, “The current phase of the plan primarily coordinates roads, railways, and waterways. It aims to connect key national requirements, including ports, local trade hubs, export processing zones, and tourism areas.”

However, full integration of aviation is currently excluded, particularly concerning goods carriage, he said noting that the sector is still viewed as being in an infancy stage.

He said that a core function of the plan is to establish a strong, coordinated system that mandates all future infrastructure projects align with the master plan.

He stressed that the most significant systemic issue facing the transport sector today is a profound lack of coordination. 

To mitigate this challenge, he asserted that all departments involved in transportation, including Inland Waterways, Roads and Highways, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), and Aviation, should ultimately operate under one umbrella.

As an example of past planning deficiencies, Moinuddin cited the current situation at the Dhaka Airport, where there is currently no public transportation available upon arrival, forcing travelers to take taxis from distant locations.

Future plans under the transport plan will address this by extending the Metro Rail and establishing organized bus and taxi stands at the airport,” he added.