ASIAN HIGHWAY: DILEMMA BETWEEN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY OF BANGLADESH
Keywords:
ASIAN HIGHWAYAbstract
The Asian Highway project was conceived and planned by the United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in 1959. It is one of the most
important and ambitious projects of UNESCAP undertake to increase trade and commerce in
the region. It envisions connecting two continents- Asia and Europe- in order to boost the overall
development of the countries of these continents. Most of the 32 countries involved have already
signed up for the project. Bangladesh has not joined the project due to disagreement on the ‘Route
Alignment’ connecting it to neighbouring countries. Bangladesh’s main concern is the likelihood of
providing transit facilities to India through its territory. Bangladesh’s proposal to realign the route connecting Yangon with Teknaf has not been accepted by UNESCAP due to Myanmar’s reluctance.
Due to the liberalized trade regime in the South Asian region and its locational advantage,
Bangladesh is likely to be immensely benefited economically by joining the network. The security
concerns expressed by different analysts relating to the network is not well-founded. The Protocol
of the Asian Highway Network does not automatically allow transit through any country. It allows
individual countries to take measures for their security concerns. Some of Bangladesh’s security
concerns related to transit may be taken care of by means of a temporary ‘Transit Transport
Framework Agreement’ with India. However, Bangladesh needs to improve its road transport and
port infrastructure before allowing international and regional traffic to pass through its territory.
To exploit the economic opportunities and development of the country, Bangladesh should join
the Asian Highway Network without any further delay. It should, of course, also take adequate
measures to address security concerns related to the project.
Downloads
References
Books
Alam, Mohammad Khurshed, Commodor (Retd), Bangladesh’s Maritime
Challenge in the 21st Century, Dhaka, Pathak Shamabesh, 2004.
Buzan, Barry et al, South Asian Insecurity and the Great Powers, Hong Kong,
The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1986.
Buzan, Barry et al, The European Security Order Recast Scenario for the
Post-Cold War Era, London, Pinter Publishers, 1991.
Inoue, Kyoko et al, Sub-Regional Relations in the Eastern South Asia:
With Special Focus on the Bangladesh and Bhutan, Tokyo, Yogengaisha
Tohkohsha, 2004.
Inbar, Efraim et al, The National Security of Small States in a Changing
World, Frank Cass & Co. Ltd., 1997.
Maniruzzaman, Talukdar, Security of Small States in the Third World,
Dhaka, Academic Publishers, 1989.
Maniruzzaman, Talukder, Politics and Security of Bangladesh, Dhaka,
University Press Limited, 1994.
Sobhan, Rehman Transforming Eastern South Asia -Building Growth Zones
for Economic Cooperation, Dhaka, The University Press Limited, 1999.
Sobhan, Rehman, Rediscovering The Southern Silk Route- Integrating Asia’s
Transport Network, Dhaka, The University Press Limited, 2000.
Sobhan, Rehman, Bangladesh- India Relations Perspective from Civil Society,
Dhaka, The University Press Limited, 2002.
Sobhan, Rehman, Promoting Cooperation in South Asia- An Agenda for the
th SAARC Summit, Dhaka, The University Press Limited, 2004.
UNESCAP, Joint ESCAP-Japan Symposium on Asian Highway Development,
Bangkok, 1998.
UNESCAPStrategy and Guidelines for Upgrading of Asian Highway Routes,
Bangkok, 1999,
Journals/Periodicals/Articles
“India Pakistan Rivalry & The Role of the Small States: A Bangladesh
Perspective, Regional Studies, Vol XXI, No 3, Summer 2003.
The Journal of Strategic Studies, Volume 25, Number 4, December 2002.
Ahmed, Sabbir, “Natonal Debate on Consensus Building in Bangladesh:
Issues and Approaches”, BIISS Journal, Volume 18 Number 2, 1997, Pp.
-36.
Ahmed, Shakil , Brigadier General, “Transit and Transhipment-Implications
for Bangladesh”, Individual Research Paper of National Defence Course
(Unpublished), Dhaka, 2002.
Alam, Kazi Showkat, Major, “Asian Highway Dilemma Between National
Development and Security”, Dissertation Paper (unpublished) of Defence
Services Command and Staff College, Dhaka, 1999.
Hafiz, M Abdul, “New Challenges to Security Studies”, BIISS Journal,
Volume 11, Number 4, 1990, Pp. 421-436.
Hayat, Syed Rezaul, “Transport System in Bangladesh”, Lecture Paper in
National Defence College (Unpublished), Dhaka, 2002.
Karim, Mohd Aminul, Brig Gen, “National Security of Bangladesh: A
Comprehensive View”, Journal of International Affairs, July 2001-Jun
Nabi, Mahmud-Un, Major, “Asian Highway, Bangladesh Perspective”,
Dissertation Paper of Defence Services Command and Staff College
(unpublished), Dhaka, 2004.
Quamruzzaman. Muhammad, Major, “Asian Highway-Dilemma Between
National Development and Security”, Dissertation Paper of Defence Services
Command Staff College (Unpublished), Dhaka, 2000.
Rahman, Muhammad Azizur, Captain, “ Security of Bangladesh: Search for a
Pragmatic Strategy”, Individual Research Paper of National Defence Course
(Unpublished), Dhaka, 1999.
Rahman, Mustafizur, “Opretionalising SAFTA:Strategic Perspective from
Basngladesh”, Presentation Paper (unpublished), Center for Policy Dialogue,
Dhaka, 2004.
The Trans-Asian Railway Network (TAR): Southern Corridor, CPD Dialogue
Report, Center for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka, July, 1999.
Uddin, Md Taslim, Major, “Asian Highway-Economic Prospects and Likely
Threats to Bangladesh”, Dissertation Paper of Defence Services Command
and Staff College (Unpublished), Dhaka, 1999.
UNESCAP, Asian Highway, Bangkok, 1996.
Paper/Bulletin/Internet
“Bangladesh- Myanmar Road Link”, The Daily Star, Dhaka, 11 February
The Daily Bhorer Kagoj, Dhaka, 18 January 1997.
The Daily New Nation, Dhaka, 26 October, 2005.
The Daily Star, Dhaka, 21 May 2006
The Daily Star, Dhaka 01 July, 2006
The Daily Star, Dhaka, 13 July, 2006
The Daily Star, Dhaka, 20 October, 2006.
EU. The Trans-European Transport Networks “ TEN-T”: accessed at http://
ec.europa.eu/ten/transport on 17 May 2006.
EU. “Community Guidelines”, accessed at http://ec.europa.eu/ten/transport/
guidelines on 18 June 2006.
Hafiz, “ Transit: A matter of National Security”, The Daily Star, Dhaka, 24
August, 1999.
Hussain, Shakhawat, Brig Gen (Retd), “Geo-strategic Importance of
Bangladesh”, The Daily Star, February 19, 2006.
India News, 20th December, 2005: accessed at http://in.news.yahoo.com.
on 14 June 2006.
Khan, Sadeq, “Road to Misinformation”,The Weekly Holiday, 17 January,
Quraishi, Ferdous A, “Bangladesh’s Nodal Primacy”, Weekly Holiday, 31
January, 1997.
Rashid, Harun-ur, Barrister, “Asian Highway Network”, Dhaka Courier, 20
January, 2006.
UNESCAP, “Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network”,
accessed at http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/common on 7 May 2006.
UNESCAP, “Asian Highway Handbook”, accessed at http://www.unescap.
org/publications on 1 June 2006.
UNESCAP, “About the Asian Highway”: accessed at http://www.unescap.
org/ttdwon 15 May 2006.
UNESCAP, “Priority Investment Needs for the Development of Asian
Highway”: accessed at http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/common on 20 May
+88 02 8031111 Ext. 3299
