The Major Highways That Connect Bangladesh – Part 1

Highways play an important role in the development and economic growth of any nation, state, or territory. Multiple towns, cities, and development projects spring up just because of their proximity to a major road or highway network. These roads and highways function as an economic artery that enables the movement of goods, labor, and services to and from economic centers in a country. This rings true everywhere in the world, including Bangladesh. This is why, in today’s article, we will be taking a look at some of the major highways in Bangladesh that helps keep the country’s economy ticking.

National Highway 1 (Dhaka-Chittagong Highway)

The National Highway 1 (N1), more commonly referred to as the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, is the busiest of all the major highways in Bangladesh. Spanning a length of 455 kilometers, it is also the second-longest highway in the country, after the National Highway 5. This highway connects Dhaka, which is the economic and financial heart of Bangladesh, with Chattogram, the country’s major port city. This highway enables the transfer of numerous imported goods from Chattogram to Dhaka, and the rest of the country. It also carries exported goods, mostly Ready Made Garments (RMG), from Dhaka to Chattogram, where it is shipped to the rest of the world.

The length of N1 that covers the route from Dhaka to Chattogram has been upgraded into a four-lane expressway, slashing travel times significantly between the two cities. National Highway 1 also goes to Cox’s Bazar, one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations containing the world’s longest natural sea beach. Other major cities covered by the highway include Cumilla and Feni. N1 also forms a critical part of the Asian Highway Network Route 41 (AH41), a route that connects Bangladesh’s two major sea ports in Chattogram and Mongla. N1 connects with the National Highway 2 (N2) at Kanchpur.

National Highway 2 (Dhaka-Sylhet Highway)

The National Highway 2 connects Dhaka to Sylhet, and then Sylhet with the border town of Tamabil. The section of the highway connecting Dhaka to Sylhet is known as the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway. It is one of the major highways in Bangladesh, since it connects the capital of Dhaka with Sylhet, one of the most developed cities in Bangladesh. This route serves as an important economic corridor for the people of this region, allowing trade and commerce between the two cities. This benefits some of Sylhet’s major industries, including the tea industry, fisheries, and cement industries.

The part of National Highway 2 that goes from Sylhet to Tamabil is called the Sylhet-Tamabil Highway. This connects Sylhet with the town of Tamabil, which is the last frontier of Bangladesh on the northeastern side. Crossing Tamabil would lead you into Meghalaya in India. The highway also leads to Jaflong, a beautiful tourist town on the Bangladesh-India border with lush rainforests and beautiful subtropical mountains. The road is part of the Asian Highway 1 (AH1) and Asian Highway 2 (AH2) of the Asian Highway Network. N2 Connects with N1 at Kanchpur.

National Highway 3 (Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway)

The National Highway 3, also known as the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, is a highway connecting Dhaka to Mymensingh, a large city in the North-Central region of Bangladesh. Although N3 is the shortest of all the major highways in Bangladesh, it is also one of the most important economic links in the country. It connects the numerous RMG factories located in Tongi and Gazipur, the industrial heart of Bangladesh, with the capital city. This makes it one of the busiest highways in the country, with gridlocks being a common feature of N3.

Much of the road falls under Dhaka, covering the areas of Purbachal, Bashundhara, Nikunja, and Uttara. The country’s largest international airport, the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, is also located on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway. There are also numerous attractions located on the road that attract a lot of tourists. This includes numerous resorts, and most importantly, two nature reserves – Bhawal National Park, and the Bangabandhu Safari Park in Gazipur. All in all, National Highway 3 is a major highway in Bangladesh that serves as a vital economic lifeline for industrial activity in the country.

National Highway 4 (Joydebpur-Tangail-Jamalpur Highway)

In the previous subheading, we discussed the National Highway 3. While traveling northwards from Dhaka or Tongi on the N3, taking a right turn at Gazipur Junction will lead you into the National Highway 4, which connects Gazipur with major economic centers in the North-Central region of the country. The first major city that you will come across while traversing the N4 is Tangail, which is famous for its sweets. At Elenga, the N4 extends into the N405, a road that leads to Jamuna Bridge, which is the longest bridge in the country spanning the mighty Jamuna. Crossing this bridge will lead you to Sirajganj, a historic city in the North of Bangladesh. From here you can also visit many other parts of Northern Bangladesh, including Pabna and Bogra. The highway ends at Jamalpur, which is a large city in the Mymensingh division.

Today’s article on the major highways in Bangladesh is the first piece of a two-part series on the most important highways in the country. In this part, we discussed the first four of the eight major highways in Bangladesh. In the next part, we will talk about the remaining four highways, which include highways leading to land border ports with India, and ferry crossings on the Padma river. Till then, stay connected with the Bproperty Blog for the latest in travel, lifestyle, and real estate. And don’t forget to share some of your most unforgettable memories of traveling on Bangladesh’s beautiful highways in the comments below!