Part 1: Asian Highway (AH)
Initiative By: UN ESCAP (Economic & Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific).
Launch: 1959 master plan to strengthen cross-border road connectivity across Asia.
Bangladesh’s Role: Officially signed the agreement in 2009. The Sheikh Hasina government played a key role in integrating Bangladesh’s routes (AH1, AH2, AH41) and developing local infrastructure, though the core concept remains a UN initiative.
Part 2: Silk Road / Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Ancient Silk Road: A historic trade network connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe since the 2nd century BC.
Modern BRI: Proposed in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping as the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, reviving ancient routes.
Bangladesh’s Role: Formally joined in 2016 during Xi Jinping’s visit. The Sheikh Hasina government partnered with China’s master plan to boost national infrastructure, though the project is conceptualized and led by China.
In Short: The Sheikh Hasina administration ensured Bangladesh’s strategic participation in these global projects, focusng on domestic connectivity and mega-infrastructure.