The initiative to expand the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway was taken almost a decade ago. The cost of making this 150-kilometer-long road four-lane, a flyover, and four bypasses in important parts was estimated at BDT 100 billion. The ECNEC also passed it in September 2023 under the name ‘Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway Improvement Project-1’. However, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has faced various challenges while starting the work. The main complication has been getting land for the 27-kilometer-long reserved forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary in the Lohagara Chattogram and Chakaria section of Cox’s Bazar.

Despite being an important and busy highway, a large portion is only 18-22 feet wide. RHD has expanded the road to 34 feet from Chattogram to Keranihat in Satkania. However, due to multiple forests, the expansion from Keranihat to Cox’s Bazar has not yet been completed.

Several surveys have been conducted to upgrade the road to four lanes, but progress has been slow. Recently, multiple road accidents on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway have raised calls for faster expansion.

According to RHD, under the “Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway Improvement Project-1,” the plan includes constructing four-lane bypasses in five bottleneck areas, a six-lane flyover, and 13 bridges. The work will be completed in two phases.

The consultant appointment process for 23.52 kilometers is ongoing. JICA is conducting a feasibility study for the remaining section. The project started in September 2023 and is expected to finish by August this year.

However, the Forest Department has shown reluctance in allocating land for road expansion in the 27-kilometer protected forest area, causing delays in the project’s implementation.

When contacted, the Forest Department stated that they had refused to allocate forest land for road expansion during the feasibility study process. Several alternative proposals were offered. One suggestion was to create alternative routes for Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar connectivity. Another idea was to build underpasses and flyovers every 3 to 5 kilometers within the 27-kilometer forest area.

The forest officials explained that Chunati is an important protected forest and wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh. Located 70 kilometers south of Chattogram city, the forest spans 7,764 hectares along the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway. It was established in 1986 to protect its rich biodiversity and endangered wildlife.

The sanctuary is also a vital corridor for the movement of Asian elephants between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Medhakachapia National Park and natural forests in Cox’s Bazar also cover about 396 hectares. The Fasiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, also within the highway’s route, spans 1,303 hectares.

Currently, a narrow section of the highway runs through the forest. Expanding the road would result in the loss of large portions of the forest. The Forest Department is concerned about the potential destruction of wildlife habitats and biodiversity, which is why it is unwilling to allocate forest land for the road expansion.

Mollah Rejaul Karim, the forest conservator of the Chattogram region, told Bonik Barta, “The Forest Department will not allocate any more forest land for road infrastructure. Previous infrastructure projects, such as the construction of railways, caused significant damage to Chunati and other large forests. Expanding the road would require vast land, and the Forest Department has proposed alternative routes and even underpass or elevated road options. For road construction, any damage to forest won’t be allowed at any cost.”

A forest official has expressed concerns that expanding the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway along the current route is complicated and challenging. Speaking anonymously, the official explained that the area's 27 kilometers of protected forest would make the expansion much more costly.

However, the official pointed out that many of these issues could be resolved if the road were rerouted through Banshkhali, linking Chattogram directly to Cox’s Bazar. Unfortunately, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is still focused on pursuing the project along the existing path, which is causing significant delays.

Shyamal Kumar Bhattacharya, the project director overseeing the highway expansion, told Bonik Barta, “Work on the first phase—building four bypasses and an elevated expressway—is almost ready to begin. Feasibility studies for the second phase are also in progress. Construction for the first phase is expected to start within the next year. But, since the second phase runs through protected forest areas, the team is exploring alternative solutions. JICA, the international agency involved, plans to invest in environmental protections for the project, which is subject to approval from its Social Safeguard Advisory Committee. The primary goal is to expand the road while safeguarding the valuable forest and its ecosystem.”