Initial Environmental Examination

Project Number: 53382-001 May 2021

Bangladesh: South Asia Sub regional Economic Cooperation - Corridor Road Investment Project

Main report vol. 1

Prepared by the Roads and Highways Division, , Dhaka for the Asian Development Bank.

Page i Terms as Definition AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ADB Asian Development Bank AMAN Rice (grown in wet season) APHA American Public Health Association ARIPA Acquisition and Requisition of Immoveable Property Act As Arsenic BD Bangladesh BIWTA Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority BNBC Bangladesh National Building Code BOQ Bill of Quantities Boro Rice (grown in dry season) BRTA Bangladesh Road Transport Authority BWDB Bangladesh Water Development Board CITES Convention on Trade in Endangered Species CO Carbon Monoxide CoI Corridor of Impact CPRs Community Property Resources DMMP Dredged Material Management Plan DC Deputy Commissioner DO Dissolved Oxygen DoE Department of Environment DoF Department of Forest EA Executive Agency ECA Environmental Conservation Act ECR Environmental Conservation Rules EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan EMoP Environmental Monitoring Plan Engineer The construction supervision consultant/engineer EPAS Environmental Parameter Air Sampler EPC Engineering Procurement and Construction EQS Environmental Quality Standards ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESSU Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit FC Faecal Coliform FGD Focus Group Discussion FOB Foot Over Bridge GHG Greenhouse Gases GoB Government of Bangladesh GPS Global Positioning System GRC Grievance Redress Committee GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism GSIP Gender and Social Inclusion Plan ha Hectare HYV High Yielded Variety ICTPs International Conventions, Treaties and Protocols IEC Individual Environmental Consultant IoL Inventory of Losses IFC International Finance Corporation IRC Indian Roads Congress IUCN International Union for Conservation and Nature JVC Joint Venture Consultant

Page ii LGED Local Government Engineering Department LRFD Load Factor Resistance Design km Kilometre km/h kilometre per hour NM Noise Measurement NO Nitric Oxide NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide MG Metre Gauge MoEFCC Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change MoRTB Ministry of Road and Bridges O3 Ozone PCU Passenger Car Unit PDPs Project Displaced Persons PM 10 Particulate Matter (less than or equal to 10 microns) PM 2.5 Particulate Matter (less than or equal to 2.5 microns) PPE Personal Protective Equipment PPV Peak Particle Velocity PT Performance Target PWD Public Works Department RoW Right of Way SOx Sulfur Dioxide SPS Safeguards Policy Statement TC Total coliform TDS Total Dissolved Solid TOC Total Organic Carbon TSS Total Suspended Solid TPP Tree Planation Plan UN United Nation VG -40 Viscosity grade-40

Currency Equivalent Weight and Measures (as of 11 Jan 2021) I ha = 2.47 acre Currency Unit = Bangladesh Taka (BDT) 1 ha = 10,000sqm BDT 1.00 = $ 0.1182 1 Acre= 100 decimal $ 1.00 = BDT 84.6

This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Page iii CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I I INTRODUCTION 1 A. Background of the Project and Rationale 1 B. Objectives of the Project and Outcome 1 C. Objective of the IEE 3 D. Extent of IEE Study 4 E. Approach and Methodology 5 II POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 8 A. GoB’s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements 8 B. Environmental Categorization of the Project by GoB 14 C. Environmental Clearance Procedures 14 D. International Treaties and Commitments 17 E. Specific Rules and Regulations Relevant to Road Projects 18 F. ADB’s Safeguard Policy and Categorization of the Project 22 III DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 24 A. Location of the Project 24 B. Project Category 26 C. Characteristic of the existing Road 27 D. Traffic 31 E. Proposed Upgrading and Improvement of the Project Road 31 F. Construction Materials, Sourcing and Utilities Need 60 G. Social and Resettlement Considerations 63 H. Implementation Schedule of the Project 63 IV DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 64 A. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 64 A. Ecological Environment 94 B. Socio-economic Environment 111 V ANTICIPATED IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 123 A. Methodology of Impacts Identifications 123 B. Screening of Anticipated Impacts 125 C. Assessment of Alternatives (Alignment Options) 133 D. Typical Potential Beneficial Impacts 137 E. Potential Adverse Impacts 137 F. Pre-construction Phase Impacts and Mitigations 137 G. Construction Period Impacts and Mitigations 153

Page iv H. Operational Phase Impacts and Mitigation 191 I. Emergency Response Plan: 206 VI GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSION 208 A. Climate Change Mitigation 208 VII INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATIONS AND PARTICIPATION 220 A. Objective of the Public Consultation 220 B. Project Stakeholders 220 C. Consultations with Project Affected People/Beneficiaries 220 D. Consultations with Governmental Departments 222 E. Outcome of Consultations 226 F. Disclosure of Information 226 G. Virtual Consultation Meeting on Safeguard Issues 238 VIII GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 239 A. ADB’s Requirement of Grievance Redress 239 B. Grievance Redress Mechanisms 239 IX ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 242 A. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) 242 B. Environmental Monitoring Program (EMoP) 243 C. Environment Management Budget 244 D. Organisational Set-Up to Implement the EMP 246 X CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 251 BIBLIOGRAPHY 253

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Contract Package-wise Length and Civil Cost ...... 2 Table 2. Bangladesh Policies and Acts Relevant to Environment ...... 11 Table 3. Institutions involved to Permit NOC for Obtaining ECC from DOE ...... 17 Table 4: International Treaties, Conventions and Protocols Signed by GoB ...... 18 Table 5: Relevant to Labor Acts in Bangladesh ...... 22 Table 6. Environmental Regulatory Compliance of the Project ...... 23 Table 7: Existing RoW, Roads Intersections, Built up Areas, CD Structures ...... 28 Table 8: Projected Vehicles and PCU in Six Homogenous Sections ...... 31 Table 9: Adopted Design Criteria for the Project ...... 32 Table 10. Proposed Community Safety Drainage Structures ...... 37 Table 11: New and Reconstruction of Culverts and Bridges ...... 40 Table 12: Proposed Protection Works of the Project ...... 47 Table 13. Basic Road Design Features of the Project Road ...... 48

Page v Table 14. Quantity and Sourcing of Construction Materials ...... 62 Table 15: Name of Ambient Air Quality Testing Locations ...... 68 Table 16: Sensitive Receptors Located Alongside the Project Road ...... 74 Table 17. Flood prone Areas within the Project Alignment ...... 85 Table 18: Annual Maximum and Minimum Water Levels in the Project Area ...... 86 Table 19. Affected Waterbodies within the Proposed RoW...... 87 Table 20: Affected Waterbodies within RoW of the Proposed Realignments ...... 87 Table 21: Names of Surface water Sampling Locations and Sampling ID ...... 89 Table 22: Name of the Sampling Locations of Groundwater ...... 91 Table 23: Protected Areas Located within 10 Km buffer of Project Area ...... 97 Table 24. Affected Trees within the Proposed RoW of the Project ...... 102 Table 25: Presence of Migratory Birds at Rivers Banks of Major Bridge ...... 106 Table 26. Land Type Classes within the Project Districts ...... 111 Table 27: Length of Road under RHD by Road Classification, 2016 ...... 112 Table 28: Land use classification witin 10 km buffer...... 115 Table 29: Population, Sex, HHs Number, Average HH Size and Population Density ...... 118 Table 30: Tribal Population and Tribal Households in Project Areas ...... 119 Table 31: Affected Persons, HHs and Other Entities by the Project ...... 120 Table 32: Distribution of Affected Households/Units under 13 Packages ...... 121 Table 33: Criteria for rating the significance of impacts ...... 125 Table 34: Anticipated Impacts Screening for the Project ...... 126 Table 35. Assessment of Alternative Alignments ...... 134 Table 36. Affected Lands, HHs, Business and CPRs ...... 139 Table 37: Proposed Overpass, Flyover and Rail Overpass ...... 147 Table 38: Proposed FOBs for Community Safety at Sensitive Locations...... 149 Table 39: Homogenous Road Sections Considered in the Modelling Study ...... 157 Table 40: Calculation of Composite Emission Factor ...... 158 Table 41: Discrete Receptor Locations with Respect to the project road ...... 162 Table 42: Predicted GLCs at discreate Sensitive Receptors locations ...... 163 Table 43: Distance-wise Predicted GLCs from edge of project road ...... 165 Table 44. Vibration Source Levels at 25 ft for Construction Equipment...... 170 Table 45. Estimated PPV at various distance from equipment’s in mm/sec...... 171 Table 46. Estimated approximate RMS vibration velocity level (Lv) with distances...... 172 Table 47. Dolphin and Turtle Conservation Measures during Construction Work ...... 183 Table 48. Emission Factors of PM and NOx (2019 and 2038) ...... 193 Table 49. Overall Project Emissions Load of PM and NOx under different scenarios...... 194 Table 50: Vehicle types included in TNM 3.0...... 197

Page vi Table 51: Vehicle speed used in noise modeling...... 198 Table 52: Forecasted Traffic for TNM 3.0 classified Vehicles ...... 199 Table 53: Predicted Noise at Sensitive Receptors with and without Mitigations ...... 201 Table 54: Distance-wise predicted noise level from Road Edge...... 203 Table 55. Traffic Growth for Traffic Forecast Analysis...... 209 Table 56. Homogenous section for TEEMP Modelling...... 210 TTable 57: Maximum PCU based on s tandard Cross-sections...... 211 Table 58. PCU Equivalent in TEEMP Model ...... 211 Table 59. Emission Factors of CO2 for vehicle types (2019 and 2038) ...... 212 Table 60: Fuel type scenario considered in the TEEMP (2019 and 2038) ...... 212 Table 61. Emission Standards of Fleet (%)...... 214 Table 62: Input Parameters for TEEMP...... 216 Table 63. Estimated Total CO2 Emission from Road Construction ...... 216 Table 64. Overall CO2 Emissions of Project ...... 217

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Project Road with Thirteen Contract Package ...... 3 Figure 2. Process for Obtaining an ECC for ‘Red’ Category Project ...... 16 Figure 3: Location Map of the Project Area...... 25 Figure 4: Typical Cross-Sections for Rural and Urban Areas ...... 35 Figure 5: Proposed Bridge Roadway Configuration ...... 43 Figure 6. Large Major Bridges (>100m span) ...... 46 Figure 7: Average Maximum and Minimum Monthly Temperature in Project Area ...... 64 Figure 8: Monthly and Annually Average Rainfall in Project Area...... 65 Figure 9: Average Humidity in Project Area ...... 66 Figure 10: Prevailing Wind Speed and Annual Wind Rose of the Project Area ...... 66 Figure 11. Sampling Locations Map of Ambient Air Quality Testing ...... 68

Figure 12. Ambient Air concentration of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 in Project Area ...... 71

Figure 13: Ambient Air concentration of CO, O3, TVOC and NO in Project Area...... 72 Figure 14. Sampling Location Map of Noise Level Measurement ...... 73 Figure 15: Noise Level alongside the project road ...... 74 Figure 16: Location Map of Vibration Measurement ...... 77 Figure 17. Vibration Level alongside the Project Road ...... 78 Figure 18. Contour Map of Olipur Realignment under DS-7 ...... 80 Figure 19: Geological Map of the Project Area ...... 81 Figure 20. Soil Texture Map of the Project Area ...... 82 Figure 21: Major Rivers Map of the Project Area ...... 83

Page vii Figure 22: Flood Map of the Project Area ...... 85 Figure 23. Surface Water Sampling Locations Map ...... 89 Figure 24. Results of Surface Water from Six Rivers ...... 89 Figure 25. Sampling Location of Sediment Collection from Six Rivers Crossings ...... 90 Figure 26. Location Map of Groundwater Sampling ...... 92 Figure 27: Concentration of As, Fe and Cr in Groundwater Samples ...... 92 Figure 28: Seismic Zone of the Project Area ...... 93 Figure 29: Bio-ecological Zone Map (IUCN) of the Project Corridor ...... 95 Figure 30: Agro-ecological Zone Map of the Project Corridor ...... 96 Figure 31: Protected Areas Located within 10 Km Buffer of Project Area ...... 98 Figure 32. Wildlife within Project Area ...... 103 Figure 33: Raghunandan Hill Forest Area under DS-7 section ...... 104 Figure 34: Landuse Map from Starting Point Dhaka Katchpur to Bhairab ...... 114 Figure 35: Landuse Map from Bhairab to Shayestaganj ...... 114 Figure 36: Landuse Map from Shayestaganj to Sylhet ...... 115 Figure 37. Landuse Coverage within Proposed RoW of the Project ...... 117 Figure 38: Proposed Viaduct at Raghunandan Hill Section ...... 145 Figure 39: Proposed Box-Culverts at Forest of Raghunandan Hill Section ...... 146 Figure 40: Land Elevation of the Study Area ...... 160 Figure 41: Modelling Base Case Simulation at Sensitive Receptors ...... 161 Figure 42. Bio-Engineering Slope Protection Works...... 175 Figure 43: Time-series of CO2 Emission at Different Scenarios of Project Life...... 218

LIST OF ANNEXURES

Annex 1: Rapid Environmental Assessment ...... 254 Annex 2. Existing Environmental Standard in Bangladesh ECR, 1997 ...... 259 Annex 3: Base-Year and Traffic Forecast as Daily Vehicle-Km...... 265 Annex 4: Justification for Selecting Locations of Ambient Air, Noise and Vibration ...... 266 Annex 5: Ambient Air Quality Testing Results...... 269 Annex 6: Photographs of Air Quality Monitoring...... 270 Annex 7: Noise Monitoring at Different Landuse and Results ...... 272 Annex 8: Photographs of Noise Level Monitoring ...... 273 Annex 9: CPRs Alongside the Existing Road and Realignment Sections ...... 275 Annex 10. Vibration Monitoring locations and Results ...... 289 Annex 11. Photograph of Vibration Measurement ...... 290

Page viii Annex 12: Surface Water and Sediment Samplings locations with Justification ...... 292 Annex 13. Results of Surface Water Quality in Project Area ...... 294 Annex 14. Photograph of Surface Water Sampling ...... 295 Annex 15: Results of Sediment Samples Collected from Six Riverbed...... 298 Annex 16: Photograph of Riverbed Sediment Sampling ...... 299 Annex 17: Test Results of Groundwater Samples ...... 300 Annex 18: Photograph of Groundwater Sampling ...... 301 Annex 19: Affected Trees within Proposed RoW ...... 302 Annex 20. Species Names, Habit, Habitat Type, Local Status of Impacted Trees...... 304 Annex 21: Ground level concentration of Pollutants at various sections ...... 309 Annex 22: Sensitive Noise Receptors from Existing and Proposed Road edge ...... 313 Annex 23: Noise Contour Map of Six Homogenous Sections ...... 317 Annex 24: Attendance Sheets of the Public Consutations ...... 323 Annex 25. Virtual Meeting Minutes of Safeguard ...... 348

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A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Dhaka–Sylhet corridor (the project road) is the main part of the National Highway No.2, connecting the capital city of Dhaka with Sylhet, one of the most commercially important cities of the Bangladesh catering most of its domestic need for construction materials such as cement sand and stones etc. It is considered to be the third most important corridor in the country providing sub-regional connectivity with the northeastern states of including and , as well as Bhutan, Myanmar, and People’s Republic of China through Tamabil Land Port, the only land port in the northeast region of the country. The corridor has already outstripped its existing 2-lane capacity causing slow and unsafe movement of passenger and freight. The limited capacity, low quality, and high safety risks have hampered the existing Dhaka–Sylhet–Tamabil corridor from maximizing its potential as one of the vital sub-regional trade and the important economic corridor of the country. With this background, Government of Bangladesh has decided for its capacity augmentation by expanding it to 4- lane configuration with service roads to meet international and domestic transport demand with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB).

2. Dhaka-Sylhet road starts from the east bank of Shitalakhya River at the end of Katchpur Bridge under district and ends at Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar in covering a total length of 222.6 km. The project road passes through various urban, semi-urban and rural settings falling under 7 (seven) districts viz. Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, , , and Sylhet. The proposed design length of the project is 209.3 km inclusive of 4 (four) proposed realignment sections of 18.2 km with geometric corrections to optimize the social impact and safety concerns. The proposed project scope will involve widening and upgradation of existing road with slow- moving vehicular traffic (SMVT) lane, replacement of narrow openings of existing cross- drainage (CD) structures and proposed few new construction structures. The proposed reconstruction, retaining with widening size and new construction comprised of 66 nos. of major/minor bridges and 305 nos. of culverts. Of these, 10 are large bridges over 100 m long spans (~100.59 m-829.17m) which will be constructed over the major river crossings of Arial Kha branch, Arial Kha, Old Brahmaputra, Titas, Meghna, and Kushiyara rivers. In addition, the project includes 1 flyover at Velanagar, 6 overpasses, 5 Rail Over Bridges (ROBs), 16 junction improvements, 20 at-grade U-Turns and 26 Foot-Over-Bridges (FOBs) for the road users and community safety. One 743.76 m long viaduct will be constructed to minimze hill cutting near the existing Olipur Rail Overbridge under DS-7. A total 73.907 km rectangular footpath cum covered drain in built-up sections, slope protection works like CC block and geotextile at all bridges approach, 62 bus-shelters, 63 passenger sheds, one axle load station, three rest areas and installation of road safety measures like rumble strips, safety/precautionary signages, sidewalks/pedestrian crossings for communities and public road users are also proposed. The entire project length is divided into 13 stretches as Contract Packages DS1 – DS12 (A+B) taking into consideration the project road length, location, nature of work, size of contracts, construction cost and period.

3. In accordance with ECR schedule 1 of Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules 1997, this Project is deemed as Red category, warranting an EIA study for obtaining the Environmental Clearance Certificate from the Department of Environment under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of GOB. On the other hand, in accordance with ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) 2009, the Project is Category ‘B’ requiring an IEE, since the project road corridor is mostly following existing alignment and not passing through any notified eco-sensitive zone boundary or passing through any protected area notified by GOB or in accordance with any International Aggreement or Convention. The critical habitat assessment (CHA) shows that the area of analysis (AOA) for the road falls within nationally critical habitat for one species, the white-rumped vulture Gyps Bengalensis since proposed alignment falls within a GOB notified vulture safe zone (VSZ). However, the assessment also

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determined that the project is unlikely to cause negative impacts on this species. Nevertheless, further studies led by the biodiversity expert in the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) need to be done prior to commencement of any project activities in the critical areas identified in the CHA.

4. Most of these anticipated impacts will be confined within construction period, and reversible in nature provided comprehensive plantation programmes, financial compensation and mitigation measures are adopted during implementation of the project. The IEE has been prepared on the basis of feasibility report, field investigations and stakeholder consultations to meet the requirements for environmental assessment process and documentation as per ADB SPS 2009 and GoB.

5. Baseline Environment: Bangladesh is a low-lying riverine country located in South Asia with a largely marshy jungle coastline on the northern littoral zone of the Bay of . Natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, and tidal surges affect the country annually. The divisions of Dhaka and Sylhet have a tropical monsoon climate characterized by heavy seasonal rainfall, high temperatures, and high humidity. Monthly average maximum rainfall in the project area ranges from 676 mm in Dhaka to 1185 mm in Sylhet.

6. Land use in the study area varies in different project districts. The study area within 10 km buffer is predominantly vegetation/forest (27.19%), plantation/shrubs/grassland (21.79%), waste fallowland (21.40%) and agricultural land (20.16%) followed by built-up (3.99%), road network (2.75%), waterbodies (2.41%) and railway network (0.31%). Whereas, the coverage of land use within the proposed RoW is largely rural cum agricultural lands 38%, existing road 16%, plantation 14%, built-up area 12%, pond/ditch/waterbody 13% and fallow lands 7%.

7. Existing 2-lane Dhaka-Slhyet road under RHD has 2x3.65 m of lane width, paved shoulders of 2x1.5 m width and road verge of 2x1.0 m width forming a total embankment width of 12.3 m. Existing ROW is generally between 40–50 meters with insufficient width in built-up sections. Terrain is mostly flat around 10m above mean sea level except in few sections of DS-4, DS-5 and DS-6 characterized by elevation profile of 68.01 m, 35.02 and 27.28m respectively. Pavement conditions are generally moderate except at few distressed locations. Roadside drains are present except in DS-1 and DS-7 sections of the existing road. Overtopping of roads is not observed in general but waterlogging is very common in surrounding areas. In built-up areas, waterways/channels crossing the project roads are mostly seasonal in nature. Appropriate design of the foundation of piers and superstructure of bridges are adopted with due consideration of earthquake hazards and in compliance with the BITWA navigation clearance guidelines, free board over the design flood level, crest level of embankment, and climate change impacts.

8. Physical environment: Since the project area is characterized mainly by rural/open agricultural areas and intermittently traverses urban settlements/built-up areas, sources of air pollution are mainly from brick kilns, vehicular emissions, dust from unpaved shoulders/deteriorated roads and domestic fuel burning. Baseline air quality, noise and vibration levels were measured at eight (8) monitoring locations along the existing road alignment. Ambient air pollutants concentration of PM 2.5 and PM10 at 6 locations were found higher than the prescribed World Bank/IFC Standard whereas none of these locations shows the pollution level exceedance of the prescribed standards by Bangladesh Air Quality Standard under ECR, 1997. On the other hand, gaseous pollutants like CO, O3, NO2 and SO2 are found below the Bangladesh permissible standards as well as World Bank/IFC Standard with the exception of SO2. Noise levels monitored at all locations are found higher than Residential/Mixed Area threshold limit of Bangladesh and World Bank/IFC Standards. Air dispersion and noise modelling were done to determine the impact due to increase air pollutants and noise level due to road operations and to suggest appropriate mitigation measures. The average vibration levels range from 0.29 mm/s to 0.59 mm/s and the highest

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was recorded at Bhairab Bazar Bus Stand (VM3) with 0.59 mm/s, followed by Dinarpur High School (VM4), Jamia Kowmia Arabiya Madrasha and so on. The measured levels were within the acceptable limits as defined in the German DIN 4150 standard since Bangladesh is yet to set up its own standards.

9. Around 297 ponds, 326 ditches, 131 borrow pits and 64 canals, which are located within the proposed RoW are likely to be partly impacted for the proposed widening. In order to assess the impact on water quality, surface water samples are collected from six (6) major rivers at 50m upstream (u/s) and 50m downstream (d/s) of the proposed bridge locations viz. Arial Kha River near Shibpur Bazar Bus Station in Narsingdi, Old near Benibazar in Narsingdi, near Bhairab Bazar, Kishoreganj, near Shahbazpur Town in Brahmanbaria, near Shayestaganj in Habiganj and near Sherpur Bazar. The results show that the BOD level in all samples are lower than ECR, 1997 standard of below 2 mg/l, and is thus suitable for drinking purpose only after suitable treatment as bacteria free, use for recreational purpose, use for fish cultivation, irrigation and for different processing purposes in industries. The concentration of PO4 were found high with 3.7mg/l d/s of Khowai River and 2.7mg/l d/s and u/s of Kushiyara river. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is also found high at Khowai River with 11mg/l and 10mg/l u/s and d/s respectively. Total organic carbon (TOC) and suspended solids (TSS) were found within the acceptable limits of the GoB standards.

10. Six groundwater samples collected from the tube wells located along the project area indicate that Iron (Fe) concentration was higher than Bangladesh Standard limit of 1 mg/l at shallow tubewell at Shayestaganj Jame Mosque (1.9mg/l) and deep tubewell (DTW) at Dianpur High School (2.1mg/l). Arsenic (As) and Chromium (Cr) concentrations were within limits in all analyzed samples. All samples from tubewells are found free from bacteriological contamination.

11. Riverbed sediment analysis indicates the highest percentage of Potassium (K), Total Nitrogen and Phosphorus (P) as 0.052%, 0.73% and 0.061% respectively in Khowai riverbed sediment samples. Except P, the concentration of K and Total N were lowest in Arial kha riverbed sediment. The highest concentration of Fe was 85.5 ppm in Arial kha riverbed sample and the lowest 63.6 ppm was in Khowai riverbed sample. The lowest concentration of Cu (3.5 ppm) and Zn (0.36ppm) were in Arial Khan riverbed sample. While the highest concentration of Cu was in Kushiyara river sediment and Zn was 0.67 ppm in Khowai river sample. There was no correlation or any trend between concentrations of the heavy metals in six samples from different river beds.

12. Environmental Hotspots: A critical habitat assessment (CHA) following IFC GN6 determined that the road is located within critical habitat for the IUCN critically endangered white-rumped vulture. The notified Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) traversed by the road is a managed area around a known breeding ground or vulture habitat where the use, sale, or distribution of veterinary NSAIDs such as diclofenac is prohibited. The road improvement is not expected to negatively impact the local vulture population but mitigation measures during construction and operation have been included to ensure this and also help government efforts in conserving the resident and migrant vultures. The road passes through mainly rural, semi- urban to urban environment. The COI falls entirely within modified habitat. However, i is anticipated that there would be some adverse impacts on the bio-physical and social environment due to the widening activities and realignments for sections passing through rural areas, materials sourcing from rivers and streams, and bridges passing over rivers, and a narrow strip of hill in terms of loss of vegetation, standing crops, and loss in livelihood. As part of the CHA, freshwater screening was done to cover all subbasins traversed by the project with a buffer of up to 150km upstream and downstream. The screening did not reveal any significant sensitivities, but the mitigation measures included precautionary measures for the endangered freshwater species, Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) and the spotted pond

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turtle (Geoclemys hamiltoni). A total of about 259,670 trees (of them 2,09,224 trees girth size over >30 cm) falling within proposed ROW under RHD land, government CPRs land, private land and private CPRs land is enumerated to be impacted for the proposed widening. A viaduct of 743.76m will be constructed at the project stretch from km 125.500 to km 126.500 over the rail crossing and an isolated hillock of the Raghunandan hill (around 100m in length). About 80 rubber trees are likely to be impacted for felling in this portion. While Raghunandan Hill cradles the and has intact forest patches in its range, the portion traverse by the road is already highly modified with existing settements, built-ups and huge traffic on the the existing road. It was reported by the officials of Forest office, Habiganj and Sylhet as well reported by the local community along the road in the adjoining hill areas that no movement of wildlife are found at present or near recent. Nevertheless, the project has adopted the viaduct design since hill cutting is strictly prohibited according to Bangladesh Environmental Preservation Act 1995, amended 2000 and Building Construction Act 1952.

13. Socio-economic Impacts: Potential social impacts identified during the pre- construction phase are permanent loss of land of 582.51 Ha with significant numbers of impacted Households (HHs) and business establishment. A total of 55,454 affected persons (APs) and 9,286 structures will be impacted by the project. The number of impacted HHs/Units/Entities requiring relocation will be 7,700 including number of displaced 7,355 HHs and the rest are impacted CPRs Government Offices and NGO/Association etc. Other possible social impacts are increased road crashes from inadequate road alignment and substandard design, increased vehicle accidents from unregulated higher vehicular speed, and localized flooding from inadequate drainage design.

14. During construction phase, most of the impacts associated will be on air, noise, surface water pollution, solid and liquid waste disposal due to activities like site clearance activities, earthworks, borrowing and quarrying, operation of hot mix plants, etc. Most of the impacts on air, noise, water and soil quality during construction stage etc are site specific, limited within the ROW and are co-terminus with the construction stage, and are easily mitigated through good engineering and housekeeping practices viz; (i) utilizing least noisy equipment and regulating time of construction near settlements and sensitive receptors; (ii) sprinkling of water on earthworks, active construction sites, material storage locations, and haulage roads; (iii) installation of silt and oil traps; (iv) slope stabilization to control erosion and protection work for ponds; (v) camp siting and management as per applicable guidelines and best practices; (vi) traffic management to avoid congestion and maintain access of local residents; (vii) no camp, materials storage, hot mix plant near forest areas/water bodies/residential areas; and (viii) no construction in the stretches of potential stray or wild animal crossings during night time; (ix) due diligence on materials sources prior to dredging. Besides these, impact on occupational health safety at worksite, labor camp, construction yards, local comunity etc., are some concerns which will be addressed by adopting appropriate mitigation measures as defined in the EMP and good engineering practices of the contractor. Hence, it expected that stress on existing natural resources such as land, water and soil are not significant during construction stage.

15. Air pollutant dispersion modeling using AERMOD Air Dispersion Model View 9.8.1 done for the project area in the six (6) sections to determine the impact of the project during construction stage. It is found that incremental ground level concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, CO and NOx is likely to increase during the construction stage of the project but their concentration will remain below the prescribed Bangladesh air quality standard of ECR, 1997 amended 2006 at all sensitive receptors’ locations.

16. Inadequate clean-up operation, restoration and rehabilitation of construction camps, labour colonies, temporary land acquisition prior to decommissioning in operation phase are particular concerns and will be addressed by redevelopment into vegetative stage and applying necessary corrective measures.

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17. Anticipated operation stage impacts are increased road accidents, accidental spillage, sub-mergence/overtopping of CD structures, waterlogging due to blockage of side drains, increased air pollution and noise levels, poor survival of compensatory afforestation and additional plantation, and animal-traffic collision, among others. All these are mainly associated with maintenance and monitoring of effectiveness of mitigation measures taken during design and construction stage. RHD is mandated to undertake regular maintenance of the road conditions and its appurtenances.

18. Air quality impacts due to increased traffic volume during operation was explored using using the Transport Emissions Evaluation Model for Projects (TEEMP) developed by Clean Air Asia for PM and NOx. Results show that from 2019 to 2038, the estimated emission load of PM and NOx of 61.63 tons/year and 1339.5 tons/year respectively. With these projections, it is expected that the future local meterological conditions will have sufficient assimilative capacity to disperse pollutants in the atmosphere during the operation phase of the project and therefore unlikely to cause any adverse impact on the sensitive receptors.

19. Vehicular taffic noise modeling has been conducted using Traffic Noise Model (TNM) version 3.0 to predict the noise level at various sensitive receptors and six homogenous sections for baseline year and projected traffic over the design life of the project. Predicted noise level for different categories of traffic shows that the project is unlikely to cause increases in noise levels beyond the IFC EHS 3 dB limit for its entire design life. However, noise levels at sensitive locations are beyond the most stringent ECR limits for silent zones. Thus, appropriate mitigation measures like noise barriers, speed restrictions (30 km/hr), which will have combined effect of significant noise attenuation can be explored in consultation with affected persons.

20. The project will cause increased Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, with the total CO2 emission at BAU and WPS (over the design life of road) estimated as 410,918.59 tons/year, and 338,332.06 tons/year, respectively (also using TEEMP). To address this impact, implementation of mandatory compensatory plantation is proposed in 1:3 basis against tree felling from government land. Additional plantation is also proposed to curb effects of greenhouse gas emissions of the project to improve the microclimate of the region in the long-term consequence through comprehensive tree plantation programme.

21. The alternative assessment of proposed improved realignments under DS-2, DS-7, DS-10 and DS-12B, was carried out to determine the alignment that would have the least impact on the biophysical, social and ecological environments; as well as optimizing cost and engineering design.

22. The total budget provided in the civil works contract and budget to implement the package-specific environmental management plans (EMP) and environment monitoring plan (EMoP) is BDT 319.57 million (US$ 37.77 mil.)

23. A Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) will be designed and implemented by RHD to receive, evaluate and facilitate the resolution of affected people’s concerns, complaints, and grievances. GRM will be operated at three-tier levels: Site-level GRC will be composed of representatives from the PIC, contractors, particularly the environmental health and safety expert and the designated safety officer, and the PIU environment and social safeguards experts; second tier at the community level will have the respective PIU Project Manager as convenor and Assistant Project Managers, PIU environment and social safeguards experts, PIC and implementation NGO representatives, local government representative, community and women representative, and representatives from pertinent government agencies as members; and the third tier or project level GRC will consist of the following persons: Project Director; concerned APD; concerned PM and/or Deputy PM; PIC representative;

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representative of the affected persons/concerned community; representative of the city ward; representative of the local deputy commissioner’s office (land); and representative/s from pertinent government agencies, as needed. The GRM aims to provide a time-bound and transparent mechanism for expressing and resolving social and environmental concerns linked to the project.

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I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Project and Rationale

24. Bangladesh having a total population of 163 million is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a density of 1260 persons per km². It has experienced an annual average economic growth close to 7% during the last decade except 2020 which was adversely impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic. With its sustained growth trend and rapidly growing population, Bangladesh has the potential to become a major exporter of labor- intensive products. Its strategic location between South and Southeastern Asia further provides good prospects of becoming it a regional trading hub. Road transport is a dominant mode of transport with a modal share of over 70% for passenger and 60% for freight traffic. Nonetheless, the poor road conditions and capacity augmentation constraints are major factors affecting transport and trading costs, hindering economic growth. Recognizing the importance of improved road network in providing momentum to nation economy, GOB is taking necessary initiatives to improve its important road corridors vital for accelerating cross border trade with neighboring countries.

25. Dhaka–Sylhet corridor (the project road) is the main part of the National Highway No.2, connecting the capital city of Dhaka with Sylhet, one of the most commercially important cities of the country catering most of its domestic need for construction materials such as cement sand and stones etc. It is considered to be the third most important corridor in Bangladesh providing sub-regional connectivity with the northeastern states of India including Meghalaya and Assam, as well as Bhutan, Myanmar, and People’s Republic of China through Tamabil Land Port, the only land port in the northeast region of the country. The corridor has already outstripped its existing 2-lane capacity causing slow and unsafe movement of passenger and freight. The limited capacity, low quality, and high safety risks have hampered the existing Dhaka–Sylhet–Tamabil corridor from maximizing its potential as one of the vital sub-regional trade and the important economic corridor of the country. With this background, Government of Bangladesh has decided for its capacity augmentation by expanding it to 4-lane configuration with service roads to meet international and domestic transport demand with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB).

B. Objectives of the Project and Outcome

26. The project aims to improve transport efficiency of the countrys road network, which will contribute to expansion of economic opportunities and poverty reduction. This will be realized through: (i) improving the national highway road network; (ii) facilitating safe and efficient transport services; and (iii) enhancing RHDs capacity for road network development and management. The project’s immediate outcomes will be improved accessibility to social services and markets, increased fuel efficiency, reduced travel time, accidents, vehicle emissions and better employment opportunities outside agriculture, both through improved access to economic centers, and increased industrial activities within the state. This will also help address the regional disparities by promoting trade opportunities to non-urban population.

27. To achieve these objectives, Dhaka (Katchpur)-Sylhet road will be widened and upgraded from existing 2-lane configuration to 4-lane configuration with SMVT throughout the alignment and augment its capacity in consistent with RHD Geometric Design Standards Manual (Revised) 2005 guidelines and other reference recommendations and standards. Currently this road is contributing significantly to country’s economic growth by providing vital connectivity between Dhaka to with rest of the country. The greater district of Sylhet is endowed with vast natural resources, rich in gas and mineral reserves, fertile land, forest hills, , which are rich in food grain and fish production, animal husbandary and tea gardens called “Tea Capital” growing nearly 80% of the Tea produced in the country. The urea fertilizer based on natural gas is produced in Fenchuganj in Sylhet division. The main suppliers

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of stones and boulders, glass sands, cement clinkers to the growing construction industries etc. are located in Sylhet division.

28. Widening and upgradation components will include: (i) widening with minor realignment and improvement in pavement conditions and road geometric corrections, (ii) reconstruction/retaining and widening of major/minor bridges and increase in vent size of culverts and provision of additional new CD structures, and (iii) provision of road side drains in built-up/urban sections, junction improvement, At-Grade U-turns, slope protection works, flyover, overpass, ROBs, FOBs, bus shelter and installation of safety measures among others.

29. The total length of Dhaka (Katchpur) to Sylhet road () corridor is about 222.6 km however, about 2.40 km of the Bhairab Bridge and its approach road section is already 4- laned and another segment of 11.4 km -Brahmanbaria road is being already implemented under the financial assistance from Indian Line of Credit (LoC) and are thus excluded from the project scope length. Thus, the IEE study will cover 209.3 km of design length section starting from junction of Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway (), about 370m north of Kanchpur bridge point (km. 0.000) traversing all along N2 through 4 proposed realignment sections until the ending point at Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar near intersection with N208 at Sylhet (km 222.60).

30. The proposed design length of the project is 209.3 km with 4 (four) proposed realignments is optimize the social impact and safety concerns. The entire project length of 209.3 km is divided into 13 stretches of subproject or as Contract Packages as DS-1 to DS- 12 (A+B) taking into consideration the project road length, location, nature of work, size of contracts, construction cost and period based on ADB’s Guidelines for procurement etc. as shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.

Table 1. Contract Package-wise Length and Civil Cost

Contract Location Names Contract Chainage km Length Civil Cost Package Start End Km (BDT in crore) DS-1 Katchpur Intersection to 00+000 18+000 18 1,055.42 Sonpara Bus Stand DS-2 Sonpara Bus Stand to 18+000 35+000 17 1,368.94 Narsingdi BSCIC DS-3 Narsingdi BSCIC to Marco 35+000 53+500 18.5 1,093.89 LPG Auto-Gas Filling Station DS-4 Marco LPG Auto-Gas Filling 53+500 67+850 14.35 1,263.11 Station to Bhairab Bridge West End Toll Plaza DS-5 Sarail Intersection to 80+500 97+300 16.15 1,211.80 Budhanti bus stand DS-6 Budhanti Bus Stand to S M 97+300 116+400 19.1 1,038.99 Spinning Mills Limited DS-7 S M Spinning Mills Limited 116+400 134+600 18.2 998.20 to Shayestaganj Bypass BM Auto Gas Filling Station DS-8 Shayestaganj Bypass BM 134+600 151+000 16.4 1,236.26 Auto Gas Filling Station to Square Textiles Land, Bahubal DS-9 Square Textiles Land, 151+000 169+900 18.9 1,148.48 Bahubal to Sadarghat Natun Bazar Jame Masjid

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Contract Location Names Contract Chainage km Length Civil Cost Package Start End Km (BDT in crore) DS-10 Sadarghat Natun Bazar 169+900 186+700 16.8 1,586.66 Jame Masjid to Sherpur Bridge Toll Plaza DS-11 Sherpur Bridge Toll Plaza to 186+700 200+800 14.1 915.07 Khasikapon Bazar DS-12 A Khasikapon Bazar to Peer 200+800 211+900 11.1 540.67 Habibur Rahman Chattar DS-12 B to Peer Habibur Rahman 211+900 222+600 10.7 731.07 Chattar Total 209.3 14,188.55

Figure 1. Project Road with Thirteen Contract Package

C. Objective of the IEE

31. The project interventions include the extensive civil works and involves land acquisition to widen and upgrade the existing 2-lane configuration into 4-lane configuration with other proposed facilities; hence, their may be significant impact on bio-physical and social-economic environment like livelihoods, infrastructure, property, and culture. The project is categorized as category ‘Red’ in accordance with Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997,

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schedule 1. While in accordance with ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) 2009, the project is category ‘B”.

32. Therefore, to fulfill the national requirement and ADB environmental safeguard requirement, the RHD intends to carry out a comprehensive environmental assessment study to ensure that the project is economically viable, environmentally sound and socially acceptable during the various stages of project implementation. The aforesaid environmental assessment when carried out for the requirement of ADB environment and social safequard is known as the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for project category B under SPS, 2009. The IEE report covers the general environmental profile of the study area and includes an overview of the potential environmental impacts and their magnitude on physical, ecological, economic, and social and cultural resources within the project’s influence area during design, construction, and operation stages. An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for each sub-project forms part of this report which includes mitigation measures for significant environmental impacts during implementation of the project, environmental monitoring program (EMoP), and the responsible entities for mitigation and monitoring. IEE has four basic objectives; (i) identify the environmental issues that should be taken into account due to project activities; (ii) determine the magnitude of potential environmental concerns and to ensure that environmental considerations are given adequate weight at planning/design stage; (iii) identify need for further environmental studies or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); and (iv) suggest enhancement measures, if any.

33. The IEE, including its EMP, will provide the guidance to RHD and its project Implementing Unit (PIU), Contractors and Supervision Consultants or Project Implementation Consultants (PIC) on how to plan, build/upgrade and operate the project road in an environmentally and socially safeguard manner. Besides, the IEE study has been conducted to comply with the requirement of Government of Bangladesh (GoB). The EIA is an obligatory requirement of the Department of Environment (DoE) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for obtaining the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for initiating project implementation.

D. Extent of IEE Study

34. Environmental assessment is carried out for all components of environment covering physical resources, noise air, soil and water pollution, terrestrial and aquatic ecology and socio-economic aspects with human development. This IEE study includes all likely Impacts and risks analyzed in the context of the project’s area of influence. It is carried out based on most up-to-date project details and detailed designs provided by the design team. The project’s area of influence encompasses (i) the primary project site (s) and related facilities (ii) associated facilities whose viability and existence depend exclusively on the project (iii) areas and communities potentially affected by the project directly and indirectly (iv) cumulative impacts from other project-related developments or further planned development of any existing project or condition around the project area (v) areas and communities potentially affected by impacts from unplanned but predictable developments caused by the project that may occur later or at a different location. The core zone of impact is considered the proposed right of way (RoW) and its immediate vicinity. The study area is limited to the project’s Corridor of Impact (CoI) 200 m width, covering 100 m on either side of centerline of the proposed road alignment from Katchpur to Sylhet for analysis of physico-chemical environmental features. The study area has been also extended to 10 km wide area buffer zone of the alignment to identify the ecologically sensitive areas e.g. reserved forest, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, , biosphere reserve, and protected areas are located. IBAT screening was done using this 10 km and the 50km minimum buffer while freshwater screening used 150km upstream and downstream, covering all sub-basins traversed by the alignment.

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E. Approach and Methodology

35. The IEE report has been prepared through field investigations; analytical testing and stakeholder consultations based on the preliminary design and detailed engineering aspects, as well to meet the requirements for environmental assessment process and documentation as per ADB SPS 2009 and national ECR, 1997 and other environmental regulations. In addition, the relevant reports and the legal requirements for the project are also reviewed. The primary and secondary information are collected through the following different steps as discussed below;

1. Reconnaissance and Initial Consultations:

36. The initial reconnaissance visit of whole project road corridor was carried out by all consultants of different discipline to preliminary assess the existing road condition, constraint of upgradation design, requirement of land acquisition, social and environmental implications due to widening and upgradation of existing road. The environmental safeguard consultants made initial consultations along with design team and other stakeholders to determine need of different types of surveys like transect walk survey, instrumental survey, ecological/biodiversity assessment, consultations through structure questionnaires as well different types information collection procedures. The valued environmental components (VEC), key stakeholders and key informants who can further substantiate the collected information are also identified. In addition, the Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) of the project was conducted through using the ADB’s Environmental Screening Checklist (Annex 1).

2. Primary Data Collection:

37. Environmental studies are conducted based on the primary data collection through field sampling using instrumentation and lab analysis, as well as visual surveying, transect walking for ecological/biodiversity assessment and using structured questionnaires. Data also collected on environmental features such as terrain, land use, waterways/water bodies, roadside vegetation, sensitive receptors, common property resources, utilities, drainage, flooding/water logging, accident prone areas, etc. within the area of interest/core zone by the environmental consultants, as well survey team supervised and monitored by environmental consultants. The instrument survey/monitoring of the biophysical parameters; ambient air and noise quality, vibration level, groundwater quality, surface water and riverbed sediment quality were carried out in the analytical laboratory of M/s EQMS Consulting Limited. The primary field data collections have been undertaken only during dry season, i.e., January – mid of March 2020, and avoided during the wet season (rainy season). Study or baseline monitoring period coincides with winter and pre-monsoon seasons. The data collected is expected to give a picture of baseline conditions without the effects of precipitation wash out, particularly for PM concentrations, pollution load and suspended solids for surface water, as well as for riverbed sediment quality. No seasonal variation is expected for noise and vibration. It is worth noting that MoEF&CC, Bangladesh does not require seasonal monitoring for linear projects while appraising it for environmental clearance. Additional baseline and seasonal monitoring for air quality, noise and vibration, water quality, soil quality, and riverbed quality are included in the environment monitoring plans for all packages, which will supplement the baseline monitoring done here.

38. The ecological/biodiversity assessment were conducted during December 2019, March 2020 in the project area to determine the extent, species composition and the condition of existing vegetation, flora and fauna, wildlife, threatened species and important habitat for the migratory species through observations, questionnaires survey and consultations with local people and government officials of Forest Department and Fisheries Department. The initial biodiversity screening within 10 km buffer zone of the project road are carried out using

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the integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) for identifying the crucial information on biodiversity hotspots, critical habitats to inform adequate risk assessment on potential impacts on biodiversity due to proposed project road. The primary data especially the social-economic structure of the project affected people (PAPs) were collected through visual observation, focus group discussion and public consultations.

3. Secondary Data Collection:

39. The secondary Information sources included published materials, statistics, maps and reports/data collected from various government and non-government organizations, such as the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Bangladesh Water Development Board, the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN), Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) District Population and Housing Census 2011. In addition, the relevant reports of the recent RHD projects and other were reviewed and data extracted for preparing this IEE report. Some information on ecological, protected areas, biodiversity and other environmental issues of the project areas are also collected from forest and wildlife department website. Information on socio-economic profiles of the project affected districts was collected from secondary data from Zila Community series of seven impacted districts (BSS, 2011).

4. Public Consultations:

40. Meaningful consultations are vital with the government agencies, and local people/beneficiary population to know the level of project acceptability, understand their concerns, apprehensions, and overall opinion. Ten (10) public consultation sessions and several Focus Group Discussions were conducted within the Project area from October 2019 to mid-March 2020. These were attended by a total of 809 people (795 males; 14 females). Discussions and consultations were held with a number of government institutions like Forest department, Department of Fisheries, Deputy Commissioner’s office, private institutions and members and representatives of the community. The public consultations were supplemented by at least 61 focus group discussions which targeted affected and vulnerable groups, of which 8 were held with women groups. One-on-one discussions were also held with local people, project affected people and community representatives at the different locations of the project areas as necessary. The environmental team recorded the participants’ perception on the proposed project and information were gathered about existing baseline environmental condition like ambient levels and effects on health, water resources, water logging/flooding, flora and fauna, wildlife movement, socio-economic standing of local people, impact due to loss of land, other assets, and common property resources, accident risk during construction and operation stage, perceived benefits and losses, etc. Information thus gathered was integrated in project design, mitigation measures, and environmental management plans.

5. GIS Mapping, Additional Surveys and Studies:

41. In this IEE study, the GIS based maps over larger area of 10km radius are produced for existing landuse, topography and physiographic study using latest cloud’ free available Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite imagery and validated with high resolution google earth images. The project alignments and proposed structures maps as Keyhole Markup Language (KML) prepared by Highway Design consultants was used prior to field investigations, particularly to determine proposed improved realignments in the field.

42. Additional studies like Green house gas emission has been conducted using Transport Emissions Evaluation Model of Project (TEEMP) of Clean Air Asia to assess the CO2, PM and NOx gross emissions due to the proposed project. Air Quality dispersion modeling using AERMOD Dispersion model has been carried out to predict the ground level concentrations of pollutants during construction stage of the project. Traffic Noise modeling using TNM 3.0 model is also conducted for estimated noise levels at sensitive receptor locations for baseline

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year (2020) and also for the projected year (2040) traffic considering the design life of the project. Moreover, Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) of the project area has also been carried out.

6. Structure of the Report:

43. This IEE has been structured in accordance with SPS, 2009. An executive summary describing critical facts, significant findings, and recommended actions has been presented in the beginning of the report. The report has been compiled and presented from the description of the project sites and the environment, assessment of impacts, discussion of information disclosure and consultation process, summary of mitigation measures in the EMP and grievance redress mechanism, then culminating with overall conclusions and recommendations.

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II POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

44. This chapter presents a review of relevant environmental policy, legal, and regulatory framework of country’s laws, international agreements and commitments and ADB’s environmental safeguard requirements. Port specific rules and regulations of Government of Bangladesh also have been recognized.

A. GoB’s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements

45. Republic of Bangladesh has well defined legal framework for protection, conservation and management of the biophysical and social environment. Some adopted from pre-liberated time, were amended to country’s present context. Those most relevant in project context are summarised in following sections. Laws/rules/acts ordinances pertaining to forests and other environmental domains having no interaction/effect directly or indirectly with the project activities have not been discussed.

1. Relevant Policies, Strategies and Action Plans:

46. National Environmental Policy of 1992: The Bangladesh National Environmental Policy, approved in May 1992, sets out the basic framework for environmental action together with a set of broad sectoral action guidelines. Key elements of the Policy are:

• Maintaining ecological balance and ensuring sustainable development of the country • Protecting the country from natural disasters • Identifying and regulating all activities that pollute and destroy the environment • Ensuring environment-friendly development in all sectors • Ensuring sustainable and environmentally sound management of the natural resources • Maintaining active association with all international initiatives related to environment.

47. The Policy seeks to ensure that transport systems, including roads and inland waterways, do not pollute the environment or degrade resources. The Policy states that Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) must be conducted before projects are undertaken.

48. National Water Policy (NWP), 1999: Endorsed by the GoB, it aims to provide guidance to the major players in water sector for ensuring optimal development and management of water. According to the policy, all agencies and departments entrusted with water resource management responsibilities (regulation, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance) are required to enhance environmental amenities and ensure that environmental resources are protected and restored in executing their tasks.

49. National Fisheries Policy (NFP), 1996 –the policy recognizes that fish production has declined due to environmental imbalances, adverse environmental impact and improper implementation of fish culture and management programs. The policy particularly focuses on aquaculture and marine fisheries development. The policy suggests following actions: • Biodiversity to be maintained in all-natural water bodies and in marine environment • Chemicals harmful to the environment will not be used in fish shrimp farms • Environment friendly fish shrimp culture technology will be used • Expand fisheries areas and integrate rice, fish and shrimp cultivation • Action against activities posing a negative impact on fisheries resources and vice-versa • Laws to ban the disposal of any untreated industrial effluents into the water bodies.

50. National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation (1998) –Policy aims at accessibility to all of water and sanitation within the shortest possible time at a price that is

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affordable to all. The Policy will be achieved through strategies formulated at various levels in consultation with the Ministry of Planning. Policy objectives are (i) to improve the standard of public health and (ii) to ensure an improved environment. Policies for rural and urban areas are presented separately as they differ in institutional aspects, content, and magnitude.

51. National Environmental Management Action Plan of 1995 (NEMAP, 1995) identifies the main national environmental issues, including those related to the water sector. The main water related national concerns include flood damage, riverbank erosion, environmental degradation of water bodies, increased water pollution, shortage of irrigation water and drainage congestion; various specific regional concerns are also identified.

52. National Water Management Plan, 2001 (Approved in 2004): The National Water Management Plan (NWMP) 2001, approved by the National Water Resources Council in 2004, envisions to establish an integrated development, management and use of water resources in Bangladesh over a period of 25 years. Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) has been assigned to monitor the national water management plan. The major programs in the Plan have been organized under eight sub-sectoral clusters including main rivers.

53. National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA), 2005 - Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)promulgated this program as a response to the decision of the Seventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The basic approach to NAPA preparation was along with the sustainable development goals and objectives of the country where it has recognized the necessity of addressing climate change and environmental issue and natural resource management. It is the beginning of a long journey to address adverse impacts of climate change including variability and extreme events and to promote sustainable development of the country. There are 15 adaptation strategies suggested to address adverse effects of climate change.

54. Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) 2009 - The BCCSAP is built on six pillars (i) Food security, social protection and health to ensure that the poorest and vulnerable are protected from climate change and all programs focus on the needs of this group (ii) Comprehensive disaster management to strengthen disaster management systems to deal with frequent and severe natural calamities; (iii) Infrastructure to ensure that existing assets are well maintained and fit for purpose and that urgently needed infrastructures is put in place to combat likely impacts of climate change (iv) Research and Knowledge management to predict that the likely scale and timing of climate change impacts on different sectors and groups; to underpin future investment strategies; and to ensure that Bangladesh is networked into the latest global thinking (v) Mitigation and low carbon development to evolve low carbon development options and implement these as the country’s economy grows in coming decades and (vi) Capacity building and Institutional strengthening of government ministries, civil society and private sector to meet the challenge of climate change.

55. National Biodiversity Strategy, and Action Plan (2004) - Aims toconserve, and restorethe biodiversity of the country for well-being of the present and future generations; maintain and to improve environmental stability for ecosystems; ensure preservationof the unique biological heritage of the nation for the benefit of the present and future generations; guarantee the safe passage and conservation of globally endangered migratory species, especially birds and mammals in the country; and stop introduction of invasive alien species, genetically modified organisms and living modified organisms.

56. The EIA Guidelines for Industry (1997) - The EIA Guidelines is a handbook defining procedures for preparing EIAs and for reviewing them, prepared for the benefit of the development partners, EIA consultants, reviewers, and academicians. The Guidelines provide

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a step-by-step methodology for the completion of EIAs, following slightly the more general ECR 1997 and its subsequent amendments in 2002, 2003, and 2010).

57. The Environment Conservation Act of 1995 (ECA, 1995) provides for authorizing the Director General (DG) of Department of Environment to undertake any activity he deems fit and necessary to conserve and enhance the quality of environment and to control, prevent and mitigate pollution. The ECA amendment of 2000 replaces Article 7 with a new Article 7 in respect of adverse impact on ecosystem; amends Article 15 in respect of ‘duration of imprisonment and maximum amount of monetary penalty’ and addition of a new Article 15a in respect of ‘demand for compensation’.

58. The ECA amendment of 2002 adds a new Article 1a in respect of ‘Precedence of the Act’, replaces Article 4(3) with ‘conditions’ under (a) and (b), adds a new Article 4a in respect of ‘Seeking assistance of law enforcing agencies and other authorities’ and replaces Article 6 with new Articles 6 in respect of ‘imposing ban on vehicles emitting smokes harmful to the environment’ and 6a in respect of ’imposing ban on production, sale, etc., of goods harmful to the environment’. ECA amendment of 2010 makes addition to Article 2 of new para (aa) and (aaa) after para (a), para (ff) after para (f), para (gg) after para (g); replaces Article 5 with a new Article 5; adds new Articles 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e, replaces Articles 9(1) and 9(3) with new Articles 9(1) and 9(3); adds a new Article 9(5) after Article 9(4); replaces Articles 12,15, 15a and 15b, 16(1) and 16(2), and 17 with respective new Articles.

59. The Environment Conservation Rules of 1997 (ECR, 1997) provide for, inter alia, Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for various environmental components (Annex 2); Categorization of industries, development projects and other activities on the basis of actual and anticipated pollution load; Procedure for obtaining an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC); Requirement for undertaking IEE and EIA as well as formulating EMP of the development projects/activities; Procedure for damage-claim by persons affected or likely to be affected due to activities or activities causing hindrance to normal civic life. The ECR amendment of February 2002 replaces Rules 4 and 7 with a new Rules 4, and 7a and 7b respectively; and adds a new Form 4 for ‘Pollution under Control Certificate’.

60. The DoE under MoEF&CC is the main agency in the administrative structure of the GOB, for overseeing all environmental matters relating to national environmental policy and regulatory issues of any infrastructure projects in the country. The DoE is mandated to enforce the Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act (ECA 1995) and Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR 1997). The DG as per the ECA (1995) is empowered to take reasonable and necessary actions toward conservation, enhancement, control, and mitigation of environmental pollution and degradation. The DG of the DoE can issue instructions to the departmental officers to enforce the environmental legislations, Acts, Rules, and Ordinances.

61. The DG can coordinate or/and authorize the DoE officers to coordinate activities of any authority/agency/individual that is relevant to the mandated objectives of the department, and of the international conventions, protocols, and treaties to which Bangladesh is a signatory. The DoE since 1989 with its available resources, facilities, manpower, and authority and undertakes the following activities:

62. The DoE activities in recent years widened from routine functions toward much broader aspects, like investigation, identification, conservation, nurturing, and enhancement, of environmental conditions and eco-system conservation, including devising of mechanisms for restoration and repair of the already degraded environment /ecosystems.

63. The Environmental Conservation Act’s (ECA) Environmental Conservation Rule (ECR), 1997 provides a basic framework for environmental evaluation of the project, and

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established procedures. These are for regulatory requirements focused on protection and conservation of the environment and various environmental resources from adverse impacts resulting from development such as the project.

2. Applicable Environmental Acts/Rules/Ordinances:

64. Additional Bangladeshi policies and acts addressing both social and environmental aspects on project planning and EIA preparation considerations, their key features and applicability to the project are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Bangladesh Policies and Acts Relevant to Environment

Act/ Rules/Law Responsible Key Feature Potential Ordinance Authority/Agen Applicability cy Environment MoEF&CC, The provisions authorize the It is umbrella Conservation Bangladesh, Director General (DG) of legislation and Act'1995 and its GoB & District Department of Environment to notifications; rules and subsequent Administration undertake any activity deems fit schedules are amendments in and necessary to conserve and promulgated under 2000, 2002 and enhance the quality of this act. 2010 environment and to control, According to this act prevent and mitigate pollution. (Section 12), no industrial unit or project shall be established or undertaken without obtaining, an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Director General of DoE. Environment MoEF&CC, GoB These are the first set of rules, The project fall under Conservation promulgated underECR 1995. Red category and Rules (ECR), Among other things, these rules hence requires prior 1995 amended in set (i) the National Environmental environment 2003 Quality Standards for ambient air, Clearance from DoE, various types of water, industrial Bangladesh. effluent, emission, noise, vehicular exhaust (ii) requirement of Procedure for environmental clearance, and (iii) obtaining requirements for EIA for the environmental industries clearance has been illustrated in subsequent section of this chapter Environment Special An Act to provide establishment of Applicable for the Court Act, 2010 Magistrate's environment courts and matters project for settlements Court (SMC), incidental thereto which resolves of any disputes come GoB the disputes and establishing forward due to the justice over environmental and proposed project social damage raised due to any activities. development activities. This act allows government to take necessary legal action against any parties who creates environmental hazards/ damage to

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Act/ Rules/Law Responsible Key Feature Potential Ordinance Authority/Agen Applicability cy environmentally sensitive areas as well as human society. Bangladesh MoEF&CC, The Act protects 1,307 species of Applicable since the Wildlife Bangladesh and plants and animals, including 32 project area is habitat (Conservation & Bangladesh species of amphibian, 154 species of many important Security) Act, Wildlife Advisory of reptile, 113 species of mammal, aquatic fauna 2012 Board 52 species of fish, 32 species of including Gangetic coral, 137 species of mollusk, 22 Dolphin. an species of crustacean, 24 species endangered species of insect, six species of rodent, 41 species of plant and 13 species of orchid. Of these, eight amphibian, 58 reptile, 41 bird, and 40 mammal species are listed as endangered in the IUCN Red Data Book The Protection & Ministry of This Act provides power to: make Applicable since Conservation of Fisheries and and apply rules to protect fisheries; project area is Fish Act 1950 Livestock prohibit or regulate erection and dominated by variety subsequent use of fixed engines; and of fishes. amendments in construction of temporary or 1982 permanent weirs, dams, bunds, embankments and other structures. Itt prohibits: destruction of fish by explosives, guns, and bows in inland or coastal areas; destruction of fish by poisoning, pollution, or effluents. Italso prescribes the seasons during which fishing is allowed, prohibits fishing during spawning periods, and specifies officials having authority to detect breaches of Act. The Embankment Ministry of Water An Act to consolidate the laws Applicable. The and Drainage Act Resources relating to embankment and project involve 1952 drainage and to make better involves improvement provision for the construction, in embankment and maintenance, management, drainage. removal and control of embankments and water courses for the better drainage of lands and for their protection from floods, erosion and other damage by water The Climate Climate Change An Act to establish a trust to be Applicable. The Change Trust Act' Trust, GoB called the Climate Change Trust to project potentially may 2010 redress the adverse impact of have an adverse climate change on Bangladesh impact on climate and to take measures on other change due to GHG matters relating thereto emission. Ozone Depletion MoEF&CC, Act is created to restrict production Not applicable as use Substances Bangladesh, of substance responsible for of O3 depleting Rules' 2014 GoB and District Ozone Layer Depletion. substances will be Administration restricted in the project. Removal of Bangladesh Removal of Wrecks and Applicable. Contractor Wrecks & Water Obstruction in inland navigable to ensure there is no Obstructions in waterways obstruction caused in

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Act/ Rules/Law Responsible Key Feature Potential Ordinance Authority/Agen Applicability cy inland Navigable Transport navigation due to Water Ways Authority project activities. Rules 1973 The Ground UpzilaParishad Management of ground water Applicable in case any Water resources; Tube well shall not be groundwater is used Management installed in any place without the for construction or Ordinance 1985 license granted by domestic purpose for UpazilaParishad the project. Hazardous MoEF&CC, Management, handling and safe Applicable. No ship Wastes & Ship Bangladesh and discharge of hazardous wastes breaking involved but Breaking Waste District and ship breaking waste involves transportation Rules, 2011 Administration and storage of hazardous waste. The East MoEF&CC, An Ordinance to provide for the Applicable since the Pakistan Water Bangladesh, control, prevention and abatement project will exercise Pollution Control GoB& District of pollution of waters of East various activities in Ordinance, 1970 Administration Pakistan (Bangladesh) water bodies. The Vehicle Act Bangladesh Exhaust emission; Vehicular air Applicable since the (1927) and Road Transport and noise pollution; Road/traffic project involves use of theMotor Authority (BRTA) safety; Vehicle Licensing and significant vehicles in Vehicles Registration Fitness of Motor construction and Ordinance (1983) Vehicles Parking bylaws. operation.

The Factories Ministry of Labor This Act pertains to the Applicable since the Act, 1965 and occupationalrights and safety of project involves Bangladesh factory workers and the provision considerable work Labor Law, 2006 of a comfortable work environment force during all stages and reasonable working conditions especially during construction Fire Prevention & Bangladesh Fire Legislation to form rules and Applicable since the Extinction Act- Service & Civil regulations for Fire Prevention and project involve 2003 & Fire Defence Extinction and Rescue Work from activities demanding Prevention & the Fire Combustion fire-fighting Extinction Rule- arrangement. 2014 Brick Burning MoEF&CC, GoB To Control adverse impact due to Contractors shall (Control) & District brick burning procure the bricks Act'1989 Administration required during (Amended on construction (if 1992 & 2001) required) only from Brick Burner approved by MoEG, GoB Brick Kiln MoEF&CC, GoB To Control Brick Kiln industries Bricks shall be Establishment & District especially in residential, procured (if required) (Control) Act' Administration environmentally sensitive Zone & only from MoEF&CC, 2013 Agriculture Land GoB authorized Brick Kiln Establishment Noise Control MoEF&CC, Formulated to set limit for noise Applicable since Rules'2006 Bangladesh, level especially high-level horn several noise GoB & District generating sources Administration like motorized vehicles and heavy machineries Water supply and Ministry of Local Regulates the management and Applicable. The Sanitation Act, Governance control of water supply and project involves 1996 (MoLG), sanitation in urban areas

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Act/ Rules/Law Responsible Key Feature Potential Ordinance Authority/Agen Applicability cy Research activities in urban Development areas. and Collaboration Bangladesh Ministry of Labor The Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006 Applicable. RHD to Labor Act, 2006 provides the guidance of include all relevant employer’s extent of responsibility clauses of this act in and workmen’s extent of right to contract document to get compensation in case of injury ensure that labor’s by accident while working. right is protected. The Bangladesh Building Sets out the constructional Applicable since the National Building Construction responsibilities of relevant project involves both Code (BNBC) Committee, GoB authority to adopt precautionary construction and measures to ensure the safety of demolition activities the workmen. According to Section 1.2.1 of Chapter 1 of Part 7, “In a construction or demolition work, the terms of contract between the owner and the contractor and between a consultant and the owner shall be clearly defined and put in writing”

B. Environmental Categorization of the Project by GoB

65. The BECR (1997), categorized the various industries/projects in the country as Green, Orange A, Orange B and Red, in considering of their site and impacts on the environment. The road sector projects including bridge construction have been categorized as follows: • Red Category ( Schedule-1: Item 67): Construction/reconstruction/extension of the regional, national, and international roads; • Red ( Schedule-1: Item 68): Construction/reconstruction/extension of bridges longer than 100 meters; • Amber ( Schedule-1: Item 63): Construction/reconstruction/extension of feeder roads and local streets; and • Amber( Schedule-1: Item 64): Construction/ reconstruction/ extension of bridges less than 100 meters long.

66. The Dhaka (Katchpur)-Sylhet Road is a National Highway, which can be deemed as “Red” category Project, since it belongs to Item 67 and Item 68 under Schedule 1, ECR, 1997 which requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The implementation of this project will require about 582.758 Ha of land acquisition for widening 2- lane National Highway into 4-lane highways with services roads on both sides including other facilities. The proposed project interventions include the extensive civil works, land acquisition and hence their impacts may be significant on bio-physical and social environment. Therefore, a detailed EIA including the EMP is mandatory to obtain an ECC for the project as per the requirements of the DoE under the MoEF&CC.

C. Environmental Clearance Procedures

67. Any project implementation in Bangladesh must obtain an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) before commencement of construction work. The Department of Environment (DoE), the technical arm of the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate

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Change (MoEF&CC) and is the regulatory body and the enforcement agency of all environmental related activities. Depending on the industry, activity, the project location, type of work, size and severity of pollution loads, DoE classified 186 activities into four environmental assessment categories. These are Green category for work that does not require any environmental assessment, Orange B for work that requires Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), and Red for work that requires full environmental assessment.

68. Procedure of obtaining environmental clearance is depicted in Figure 2. The DoE has 60 days to respond with its review, comments and approval after submission the application including supporting documents by the Client for obtaining an ECC of the project, comments and approval after submission the application including supporting documents by the Client for obtaining an ECC of the project.

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Red Category

Submission of IEE NOCs, and other supporting documents within 60 working days from the date of application Issuance of Site

Exemption Application for Site Clearance Prepare TOR for EIA Study for Approval by DOE within 15 working days from the date of submission Approved TOR for EIA Study

Prepare and May start Land and Submission of an EIA Infrastructural Development including EMP for within 60 working days from the date of application Approved EIA with EMP

Application for Environment Clearance within 30 working days from the date of application Issuance of ECC

Project Starts

Annual Renewal of ECC 30 days before Expiry

Figure 2. Process for Obtaining an ECC for ‘Red’ Category Project

69. Therefore, RHD needs to submit an application under Article 7(5) as per Rule 7, {(6) d} of the ECR, to obtain Environmental Clearances Certificate for Dhaka-Sylhet National Highway to DoE. Within 60 days of the receipt of the application, a Location Clearance Certificate shall be issued or the application shall be rejected mentioning appropriate reasons for such rejection.

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70. The application must be accompanied by the following documents1: • Application through prescribed Form-3 under ECR, 1997, • Fee (s) under the Schedule 13, {Rule 7(5),8(2) and 14} of ECR, 1997 (Amended in 2002), • Feasibility Study for the project, • EIA as per the Terms of Reference provided by the DoE and according to ADB SPS, 2009, • EMP for this project, • No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the Local Authorities, • Emergency plan relating adverse environmental impact and plan for mitigation of the effect of pollution; • Outline of Relocation and Rehabilitation Plan (from RP document), and • Other necessary information (based on the type of project).

71. It is to be noted that, DoE requires that project proponent obtain NOCs from affected agencies or local/regional administrations, which essentially sign off on the project. It is only after these NOCs are provided that DoE issues the ECC to proceed for construction. The following institutions will be involved for Environmental Clearance Permission from DoE by providing their No Objection Certificate (NOC) on implementation of this project as shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Institutions involved to Permit NOC for Obtaining ECC from DOE

Government Department Relevant Planning and Enforcement Duties Department of Environment (DoE) -Site Clearance and Environmental Clearance Certificate will be required for cutting of Raghunandan Hill and commencement of civil works for implementation of the project. Forest Department (FD) -NOC from CCF of FD, as the project will require the cutting of trees within right of way of RHD, public and private areas. In addition, NOC will be obtained for the cutting a small protion of Raghunandan Hill2 covered by 80 nos. of rubber trees. Deputy Commission (DC) -NOC from concerned Deputy Commissioner (seven districts as the project will require the new land acquisition for proposed realignment and widening of existing road embankment. Department of Fisheries (DoF) -NOC from DoF due to piling of piers in river, if necessary. Bangladesh Water Development -NOC from BWDB due to river training works or protection works. Board (BWDB) Bangladesh Inland Water Transport -NOC from BIWTA due to the construction of major bridges over the water crossing. Authority (BIWTA)

D. International Treaties and Commitments

1 A Guide to Environmental Clearance Procedure, Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forests, August, 2010. 2 Client, RHD has sent a letter on 25 March 2020 to Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), Department of Forest for seeking their clearance of Raghunandan hill cutting under Contract Package DS-7.

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72. Bangladesh is signatory to a number (30) of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and some bilateral instruments and is committed to ensuring that these protocols are complied with during all development works. Some of them are very important in the context of environmental protection for Road project. Bangladesh has signed, ratified, and or accepted several international treaties, conventions and protocols on environment, pollution control, bio- diversity conservation and climate change. An overview of the relevant international treaties and conventions signed by GoB applicable for the project is shown in Table 4.

Table 4: International Treaties, Conventions and Protocols Signed by GoB

Environment related International convention and Treaties Status (Signed (S) Rectified (R) / Accessed (AC)/ Accepted (AT) /Adapted (AD) Convention on Biological Diversity, (Rio De Janeiro, 1992.) 05.06.92 (S), 03.05.94 (AC) International Plant Protection Convention (Rome, 1951 01.09.78 (AC) Plant Protection Agreement for the South East Asia and Pacific 04.12.74 (AC), (entry into force) Region (as amended) (Rome, 1956.) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (New 09.06.92 (S), 15.04.94 (AC) York, 1992.) International Convention to Combat Desertification, (Paris 1994.) 14.10.94 (S), 26.01.1996 (AC) 26.12.1996 (entry into force) Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as 20.04.92 (AC) Waterfowl Habitat (Ramseur, 1971) ("Ramseur Convention") Convention on ban and restriction of International Trade in 20.04.92 (AC) Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and flora (Washington, 1973.) ("CITES Convention") World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris) 03.11.83 (AC) Prevention and Control of Occupational hazards (Geneva) 24.06.74 Cancer prevention Occupational hazards due to air pollution, noise & vibration 01.06.77 (Not ratified) (Geneva), Occupational safety and health in working environment (Geneva) 22.06.81 Occupational Health services, (Geneva) 24.06.85 (Not ratified) Safety in use of chemicals during work (Geneva) 25.06,90 International Convention on Climate Changes (Kyoto Protocol) 21.08.2001 (AC) 1997 (AD) Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone Layer 1987 (S) 1988 (R)

E. Specific Rules and Regulations Relevant to Road Projects

1. Transport Related Policies and Regulations:

73. National Land Transport Policy: The Land Transport Policy has been formulated in light of the Government pledge to establish a transport system that is safe, cheap, modern, technologically dependable, and environmentally friendly. The objectives are as follows: • To introduce long-term network planning • To improve the management of traffic • To manage road-side activities • To maintain the road network at a level which protects the value of the investment • To secure a sustainable means of funding road maintenance • To develop an integrated planning approach in road construction

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• To involve the private sector more in infrastructure, services and maintenance

74. Geometric Design Standards for Roads & Highways Department: RHD Geometric Design Standards Manual (Revised-2005) to promote good, consistent practice in the geometric design of the Roads and Highways Department’s roads. All RHD road projects should be designed in accordance with the design approach, standards, assumptions, etc., which are set out in this manual. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is committed to following good practice with regard to the safety and environmental impact of its roads. RHD ensures that all the Government’s environmental regulations are complied with, and for major projects, this will usually involve the preparation of environmental impact assessments and environmental management plans.

75. Applicable Road Safety Policies in Bangladesh: GOB ensures that its road safety laws meet international standards and best practices. The past ‘The Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983’ has not been able to meet the standards and good practices as well as current demands to ensure road safety. Against this backdrop, the Government has initiated two new laws: The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Act 2015 and the Bangladesh Road Transport Act (RTA) 2018 which took effect on November 1 2019 .

2. Protection and Conservation of Fish, Forest, Wildlife and National Biodiversity Strategy:

76. Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules (1985): The Fish Rules (1985) specifies in section-5 that “No person shall destroy or make any attempt to destroy any fish by explosives, gun, bow and arrow in inland waters or within coastal waters”. In addition, section- 6 of the Rules states that “No person shall destroy or make any attempt to destroy any fish by poisoning of water or the depletion of fisheries by pollution, by trade (industrial) effluents or otherwise in inland waters”. It is considered that the construction works for the proposed road Project will affect rivers, ponds, canals and borrow pits alongside existing Dhaka-Sylhet are in line with the objectives of the above-mentioned Act and Rules.

77. Forest Act (1927) and Forest (Amendment) Act (2000): The Forest Act (1927) was enacted to control trespass, illegal resources extraction from forests and to provide a framework for the forestry revenue collection system. It is the main legislative context for forestry protection and management in Bangladesh. The Act allows for the notification of forest reserves in which the government, through the Forest Department, regulates the felling, extraction and transport of forestry produce in Bangladesh.

78. The project road passes through agricultural lands, but not any designated forest land and/or area of special conservation or protected area. Therefore, the widening of existing Right of Way (ROW) will not affect any designated forest and protected areas, while will affect agricultural lands due to land acquisition for the realignment.

79. The RHD will need to obtain the required permission from the Forestry Department, MoEF&CC for felling of the affected 2,59,670 trees comprised social forest trees and homestead trees. It is noted that small portion of around 100m long section of realignment viaduct at Olipur under DS-7 will pass over Raghunandan hill forest area and the affected forest area has about 80 numbers of medium sized rubber trees and mostly barren land with grass.

80. Wild Life (Preservation) Order, 1973 (President’s Order 23 of 1973): This is first comprehensive legislation for control and management of wild animals including its habitat. The Bangladesh Wild Life (Preservation) Order, 1973 was amended twice, once on 17 July

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1973 and lastly on 12 February 1974 Act No. XVII of 1974 (Banik, 2003). There are several different types of protected areas in Bangladesh. Such as: • Botanic Gardens (e.g., Baldha Garden and National Botanical Garden in Dhaka), Eco-parks (e.g., Sitakund Eco-park in Chittagong, Safari Park at Cox's bazar, Madhabkund Eco-park in Sylhet) which are established and managed as such, but they are not declared under any legal provision; • Reserved Forests and Protected Forests as declared under the Forest Act, 1927; • Game Reserve, National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary as declared under the Bangladesh Wild Life (Preservation) Order, 1973; and • Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) notified under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995.

81. There are 16 protected areas in Bangladesh declared under the provisions of the Bangladesh Wild Life (Preservation) Order, 1973. These are eight National Parks (IUCN category V), namely, Bhawal, Madhupur, Lawachara, Himchari, Nijhum Dweep, Kaptai, Ramsagar and Medha Kachsapia. The rest seven wildlife sanctuaries (as IUCN category IV), namely, Rema-Kalenga, Chunati, Pablakhali, Char Kukri Mukri and Sundarban East, Sundarban West and Sundarban South; and only one game reserve (IUCN category VI), known as Teknaf Game Reserve.

82. Cutting of Hill: The legal base of preventing illegal hill cutting is the Building Construction Act, which was enacted in 1952. Then, the government amended the 1952 Act twice in 1987 and in 1990. In the Building Construction (Amendment) Act of 1990, according to the provision of section 3C of the Act no person shall without the previous sanction of the authorized officer cut or raze any hill. The Act also provides for specific provisions for punishment and legal actions against the persons transgressing the law. As per section 3D of the Act, the authorized officer can serve a show cause notice to any person who is cutting hills illegally.

83. Under section 18 of the Act, the government formulated the Building Construction Rules 1996 with specific provision regarding the permission procedure for cutting of hills. Rule 27 states that in addition to the fees, designs as required under the Rules no(s). 4 and 5, the applicant must also submit the following documents: (a) Clearance or NOC from the environment department; (b) Topographical or contour map of the hill; (c) Detailed design showing all the necessary development plan, protective measures etc.

84. According to Bangladesh Environment Preservation Act 1995, as amended in 2000, cutting of hills without approval of the authorities concerned is prohibited. Punishment for such offence is up to two years imprisonment or fine for the offence. The Ministry of Housing and Public Affairs of the Government in a circular dated 08/01/1995 memo no. Sha- 8/chouk-1/94/335 and also another memo no. environment/ sha:497/91/545 dated 28.02.2002 issued by the Department of Environment (DoE) formed a seven members committee to stop illegal hill cutting and razing for the areas of Sylhet, Shunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, with other 13 districts.

85. However, it is noted that one proposed realignment section of the project passes involves cutting and leveling of a small hill, named Raghunandan Hill under Contract Package DS-7 in Olipur of and accordingly RHD has issued a proposal letter on 25th March 2020 to Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), Department of Forest seeking their clearance which is awaited.

86. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2004): Aims to conserve, and restore the biodiversity of the country for well-being of the present and future generations;

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maintain and to improve environmental stability for ecosystems; ensure preservation of the unique biological heritage of the nation for the benefit of the present and future generations; guarantee the safe passage and conservation of globally endangered migratory species, especially birds and mammals in the country; and Stop introduction of invasive alien species, genetically modified organisms and living modified organisms.

3. Land Acquisition Requirement:

87. As per requirement of RHD, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the applicable seven districts will operate the land acquisition process of the project according to ADB SPS, Land Acquisition Act, (1894), Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Ordinance 1982 and finally Bangladesh Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act, 2017 (ARIPA, 2017). The Ministry of Land is responsible for acquiring and requiring of lands, management and settlement of the Government owned lands and vested properties and abandoned properties and in charge of land administration and development for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh.

4. Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan:

88. The GoB also prepared the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) in 2008 and revised in 2009 (BCCSAP 2009) is based on ensuring food safety, safe housing, employment and access to basic services to the poorest and most vulnerable, including women and children liable to be impacted by climate change; Comprehensive Disaster Management Program (CDMP); appropriate maintenance of infrastructures and ensuring them fit-for-purpose during any event that might result due to likely climate change impacts; research and knowledge management to predict the likely scale and timing climate change impacts; implementation of mitigation and low carbon development options toward facilitating economic growth and meeting demands of increasing energy needs; and capacity building and institutional strengthening and mainstreaming them toward meeting the challenges of climate change as part of development actions.

5. Legislation on Occupational Health and Safety:

89. The legislations on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) during construction dictates provisions relating to the workers’ safety, health and hygiene, occupational diseases, industrial accidents, protection of women and young persons in dangerous occupations, and cover conditions of work, working hours, welfare facilities, holidays, leave, etc. The main legislations regarding the OHS during Construction stage of the project are; • The Factories Act,1965 (Act XXV of 1934) and the Factories Rules 1979: is generally applicable to any factory3 • The Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923 as amended in 1980 and 1983, • Employment of Children Act 1938.

6. Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006:

90. The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments under the Ministry of Labor and Employment administers and enforces the Labor laws, Factories Act and Factory Rules. The new Act codified 25 labor laws and reaffirmed the rights of workers to: • Proper wages and benefits that ensure an adequate standard of living for workers and their families;

3 Factory means any premises including the precincts thereof whereon 10 or more workers are working or were working on any day of the preceding twelve months and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on with or without the aid of power, but does not include a mine’.

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• Equal pay for equal work and non-discrimination; • Regulated time of work and prohibition on forced labor or slavery; • Safe, secure and healthy working environment; • Fair compensation in cases of work-related death or injury; -Right to organize trade unions for collective bargaining; -Freedom of children from exploitation; -Proper sanitation facilities, dinking facilities, maternity leave, childcare facilities and human resource development.

91. Other relevant Acts under GoB are shown in Table 5.

Table 5: Relevant to Labor Acts in Bangladesh

Title Overview Labor Relations under Labor General concerns during the project implementation state that the Laws, 1996. project manager must recognize labor unions. Public Health (Emergency Calls for special provisions about public health. In case of Provisions) Ordinance, 1994. emergency, it is necessary to make special provisions for preventing the spread of disease, safeguarding the public health, and providing adequate medical service, and other Services essential to the health of respective communities and workers during construction-related work. The Employees State Insurance Health injury and sickness benefit should be paid. Act, 1948. The Employer's Liability Act, 1938. Covers accidents, risks, and damages with respect to employment injuries Maternity Benefit Act, 1950. Framed rules for female employees, who are entitled to various benefits for maternity Bangladesh Factory Act, 1979. Workplaces provisions: these Act and Labor Laws require medical facilities, first aid, accident and emergency arrangements, and childcare services to be provided to the Workers at workplace.

F. Project standards

92. Following ADB’s Environment Safeguards Good Practice Sourcebook, when national regulations differ from the performance levels and measures presented in IFC EHS Guidelines, the project will adhere to whichever is more stringent (e.g. noise limits will follow Bangladesh ECR limit for silent zones as the more stringent standard for educational and health institutions). Applicable standards are indicated in pertinent sections.

G. ADB’s Safeguard Policy and Categorization of the Project

93. ADB safeguard policy document Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS), 2009 mandates a number of considerations, including: (i) project risks and respective mitigation measures and project assurances; (ii) project level Grievance Redress Mechanism including documentation in the EMP; (iii) definition of the project area of influence; (iv) physical cultural resources damage prevention analysis; (v) climate change mitigation and adaptation; (vi) occupational and community health and safety requirements (including emergency preparedness and response); (vii) economic displacement that is not part of land acquisition; (viii) biodiversity conservation and natural resources management requirements; (ix) provision of extensive sufficient justification if local standards are used; (x) ensuring adequate consultation and participation; and (xi) ensuring that EMP includes implementation schedule and

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(measurable) performance indicators. In accordance with the ADB’s SPS all development projects financed by ADB are classified as A, B, C and FI for necessary environment studies, as follows: • Category A: The proposed project is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that are irreversible, diverse, or unprecedented; impacts may affect an area larger than the sites or facilities subject to physical works. A full-scale environmental impact assessment (EIA) including an environmental management plan (EMP), is required. • Category B: The proposed project’s potential environmental impacts are less adverse and fewer in number than those of category A projects; impacts are site- specific, few if any of them are irreversible, and impacts can be readily addressed through mitigation measures. An initial environmental examination (IEE), including an EMP, is required. • Category C: The proposed projects unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts, which requires neither EIA nor IEE; although environmental implication are, still need to be reviewed. • Category FI: The proposed project involves the investment of ADB funds to, or through, a financial intermediary.

94. Per ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 the project road is categorized as Category ‘B’, since the road corridor is not passing through any notified eco-sensitive zone boundary or through any protected area notified by Government of Bangladesh or in accordance with International Aggreement or Convention. The proposed alignment including its 4 realignment sections is not passing through or located nearby any protected/eco-sensitive area. The critical habitat assessment (CHA) shows that there is high probability that the area of analysis (AOA) for the road falls within nationally critical habitat for one species, the white- rumped vulture Gyps Bengalensis since the proposed alignment falls within a GOB notified vulture safe zone (VSZ). However, the assessment also determined that the project is unlikely to cause negative impacts on this species. The proposed improvement is unlikely to cause any other significant, unprecedented, or irreversible impact. Most of the anticipated impacts are co-terminus and concomitant to construction activities/period, mostly localised and short- term in nature. With the implementation of mitigation measures recommended in this IEE and activities and location specific environment management plan, it is expected that there will be negligible or no residual impacts. The summary of environmental regulatory compliance required for the project is shown in Table 6.

Table 6. Environmental Regulatory Compliance of the Project

Project ADB Government of Bangladesh Name Category in Environmental Category in Accordance with Environmental accordance Assessment ECR, 1997 Assessment with SPS, 2009 Dhaka- Category B IEE Category: Red Construction/ EIA, including Sylhet (comprehensive) reconstruction/ expansion of EMP project roads (regional and national and international) and bridges >100m

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III DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

A. Location of the Project

Proposed Dhaka (Katchpur)-Sylhet national highway (N2) starts at design Ch. 0+000 at the junction of Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway (N1), about 370m north of Kanchpur bridge over Shitalakhya river and end at Ch. 222+600 near intersection with N208 at Sylhet covering a total length of about 222.6 km. However, about 2.40 km of the Bhairab Bridge and its approach road section is already 4-laned and another segment of 11.4 km Ashuganj-Brahmanbaria road is already being implemented under the financial assistance from Indian Line of Credit (LoC) and are thus excluded from the project scope length. These are not considered associated facilities per ADB definition as in the sense that neither is dependent on the other to achieve its desired outcomes and objectives. Thus, the IEE study will cover 209.3 km of design length section starting from junction of Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway (N1), about 370m north of Kanchpur bridge point (km. 0+000) traversing all along N2 through 4 proposed realignment sections until the ending point at Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar near intersection with N208 at Sylhet (km 222+60).

95. The project road passes through seven districts under three divisions, named Narayanganj, Narsingdi and Kishoreganj districts located in , in and Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts in Sylhet division. The location map of the project road is presented in Figure 3.

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Figure 3: Location Map of the Project Area

96. The road passes through mostly rural areas as well the urban and semi urban centres of Narayanganj, Narsingdi and Bhairab Bazar, Jagadishpur and Shaistagonj before reaching Sylhet. The roadway bridge crosses the Meghna River, which is one of the three rivers that form the Delta (the largest Delta in the world). Bhairab Bazar is in the of in Dhaka Division and Shaistagonj is in the Upazila of Habiganj district. Major rivers which intersect with the project road, are Arial Kha, Old Brahmaputra, Titas, Meghna, Khowai and Kushiyara. Beside these rivers, there are several ponds, small rivers, tributaries, distributaries, streams and canal alongside the project road mostly within the DS- 1 to DS-4 sections.

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Photo 1: Road starts after Katchpur Bridge Photo 2: Ends at Peer Habibur Rahman Chatar

B. Project Category

97. Project categorization has been done using Rapid Environment Assessment (REA) checklist of ADB for roads and highways as provided in Annex 1 after survey and initial consultations with local people and RHD officials.

98. The project alignment is outside any legally protected area that is the road donot pass through any notified eco-sensitive zone boundary or through any protected area notified by Govt of Bangladesh or in accordance to International Aggreement or Convention. Diversion of forest land is minimal and limited to a stretch of 100m (km 125.500 to km 126.500 ) for construction of a 743.76 m long via-duct cum ROB along Raghunandan hill forest. This forest patch is devoid of any dense vegetation and any RET species of flora or fauna. It supports few rubber plants and some mammalian species like barking deer, rhesus monkey, wild boar, Indian fox, Indian grey mongoose etc Crossing of wildlife’s is quite infrequent and erratic and no incidence of any collision was reported in the past. Sighting of wildlife was not observed during survey period. However, for any anticipated crossing movement, necessary mitigation measures viz cautionary signages, speed restrictions etc. have been incorporated in the design to avoid collision of wild animals with road traffic. The via-duct itself will serve as main conduit for wildlife crossings

99. Besides, a total of 2,59,670 trees have been enumerated to be impacted within the ROW for felling during construction stage. Most of the adverse impacts are co-terminus with the construction stage, limited within the ROW will be mitigated through comprehensive plantation programme, good engineering and housekeeping practices. Hence, the project is classified as environment Category B in accordance with the ADB’s SPS 2009.

100. On the other hand, according to the classification of ECR schedule 1 of Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules 1997, Dhaka (Katchpur)-Sylhet Road is deemed ‘Red’ category project, since it is an upgradation and widening of existing national highway project. Project road also involves huge land acquisition of 582.758 Ha for widening from 2-lane into 4-lane configuration with services roads and other facilities; hence, adverse impacts is inticipated on physical, biological and social setting and thus the project warrants the requirement of an EIA study for obtaining the Environmental Clearance Certificate from the Department of Environment under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of GoB.

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101. Therefore, an EIA study including EMP is mandatorily to be conducted for Dhaka- (Katchpur)-Sylhet Road. This EIA is processed in Bangladesh through ECA, 1995 and ECR 1997 and amended subsequently in 2000 and 2002. To obtain the ECC before commencement of the project work, the RHD need to submit the EIA report to DOE for the approval in accordance with the regulatory requirement of Bangladesh. RHD is in the process of completing the required No Objection Clearances from concerned departments and targets to complete the process of ECC application by July 2021.

C. Characteristic of the existing Road

102. Existing 2-lane Dhaka-Sylhet road have RoW is generally between 40–50 meters with insufficient width in built-up sections for widening so additional acquisition and demolition of many structures is unavoidable, where settlement and commercial areas exist alongside the road. Existing carriageway under RHD have 2x3.65 m of lane width with paved shoulders of 2x1.5 m width and road verge of 2x1.0 m width forming a total embankment width of 12.3 m. Terrain is mostly flat around 10m above mean sea level except in few sections of DS-4, DS-5 and DS-6 characterized by elevation profile of 68.01 m, 35.02m and 27.28m respectively. Pavement conditions are generally moderate except at few distress locations. Roadside drains are present except in DS-1 and DS-7 sections of the existing road. Overtopping of roads is not observed in general but waterlogging is very common in the nearby areas. In built-up areas, waterways/channels crossing the project roads are mostly seasonal in nature. There are total 818 nos of water bodies like, ponds, ditches/ borrow pit and canals located within the existing RoW. There are existing 305 nos of culverts and 66 nos of major and minor bridges. Most of the road sections have inadequate road safety provisions. Horizontal and vertical profiles are non-compliant with applicable standard provisions. Horizontal curve is mostly insufficient in built-up areas. Abutting land use is predominantly open agricultural land and water bodies. Green mature trees of indigenous species are present along the project road.

103. Therefore, in addition to the resettlement issues there will be a range of environmental factors to take into account, such as loss of trees, fish population, use of agricultural lands and changes made to the local drainage patterns, and water logging, etc. The existing RoW, road intersections, buildup areas, cross drainage (CD) structures and water bodies alongside the road are presented in Table 7.

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Table 7: Existing RoW, Roads Intersections, Built up Areas, CD Structures

Package Road Chainage RoW Description of Intersection Built- up Cross Drainage Water bodies No Section (m) section/ town Structures (Nos) alongside Road (Chainage) Location Intersection with Chainage Culverts Bridges Ponds B. Ditch (km) pit/ Canal DS 1 0 - 18 00+000 55 Katchpur Junction with Katchpur km 0 N1 - 0.8, 13.08 - 02+300 Tarabo moor Intersection 14.61 with R201 Industries and 04+400 Rupshi Intersection Urban with Rupganj Structures 11+000 Bhulta Intersection including 6 2 71 41 38 with R202 Tarabo small 11+400 Gausia Intersection market, Rupsi with N105 small shops, Bhulta market, and few shops in Gausia DS 2 18 - 35 25+800 45 Shekerchor Junction with Shekhercha N2 km (25.02 - 30+250 Panchdona moor Intersection 27.09, 29.27 - with R301, 30.90, 32.23 - 2047 34.77) and 12 1 59 16 86 33+600 Velanagar Velanager markets and urban structures, DS 3 35 - 53.5 39+300 45 Itakhola Intersection Itakhola Km with R310, R 38.50 - 40.11, 211 41.67 - 44.10, 45.53 - 47.52, 33 2 31 12 25 50.09 - 53.27 and semi urban structures

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Package Road Chainage RoW Description of Intersection Built- up Cross Drainage Water bodies No Section (m) section/ town Structures (Nos) alongside Road (Chainage) Location Intersection with Chainage Culverts Bridges Ponds B. Ditch (km) pit/ Canal DS 4 53.5 - 67+080 45 Durjoy moor, Bhairab Junction with Durjoy Bazar 67.85 R360 km 53.88 - 56.50, 59.67 - 61.32, 66.07 - 11 2 12 6 16 66.85 and urban structures DS 5 81.6 - 97.3 69+150 60 Bhairab Bridge Roundabout, Chunarughat- approach (East) section will be Madhupur Km improved 86.31 - 90.09 under LOC and urban Excluded from Project length Project Structures 80+500 A. Q M. Chattar Small market, shops 81+500 55 Sarai moor Junction with A few shops at R220 Sarail more 81.50 10 10 50 28 36 94+200 50 Amtoli Junction with A few shops at Bijoynagar amtoli DS 6 97.3 - 111+320 50 Jagadishpur (Teliapara) Junction with Small market, 25 7 43 48 24 116.4 Noapara shops DS 7 116.4 - 117+000 40 Ratanpur Junction with Small Shops 42 2 0 5 20 134.6 Nashirnagar DS 8 134.6 - 151 136+080 40 Shayestaganj Intersection Shayestaganj with N204 market Jagadishpur, 136.080 24 5 6 5 0 Moulvibazar– Srimongal, Shayestaganj, DS 9 151 - 169.9 160+500- 45 Paniumdia Bazar 68 9 10 2 18

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Package Road Chainage RoW Description of Intersection Built- up Cross Drainage Water bodies No Section (m) section/ town Structures (Nos) alongside Road (Chainage) Location Intersection with Chainage Culverts Bridges Ponds B. Ditch (km) pit/ Canal DS 10 169.9 - 176+050 45 Aushkandi Intersection Mirpur

186.7 with R240 market176.15 180+100 40 Umorpur Syedpur Intersection Umorpur with R241 market 169.35 22 11 14 6 13 184+080 Sherpur Intersection Bahubal with N207 Market 184.08 DS 11 186.7 - 213+300 40 Goala Bazar at 200.8 195+800 and 10 6 24 7 31 Tajpur Bazar at 198+600 DS 12 A 200.8 – 203+300 40 Doyamir Bazar 18 0 8 4 2 211+900 DS 12 B 211+900- 213+00 - Lalabazar 15 222+600 11 12 45 221+500 Peer Habibur Rahman Intersection

Chattar with N208

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D. Traffic

104. The traffic forecast was carried out for traffic count and categories of vehicle under the project corridor. Traffic survey was carried out for 13 classes including non-motorized vehicles. The hourly traffic counts surveyed data were adjusted and presented in terms of Average Daily Traffic (ADT). The ADT was adjusted with seasonal correction factor to estimate the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT). The road corridor under study were sub-divided into six segments in order to produce homogeneous sections in respect of traffic type, volume and other characteristics4. Daily vehicles-kilometers are estimated based on annual utilisation of vehicles of Bangladesh and is presented in Annex 3. The base year traffic forecast of project corridors was estimated for 2024, the opening year of the project considering the existing primary field data collected for 2019-20. From the traffic projection, it was indicated that some of road sections would be saturated before the end of project life in 2040 particularly the first two sections. The vehicles and Passenger Car Unit (PCU) of the projected years in different homogenous portions of sub-sections is given in Table 8.

Table 8: Projected Vehicles and PCU in Six Homogenous Sections

Road Sections Traffic Projected Years 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Veh PC Veh PC Veh PC Veh PC Veh PC icle U icle U icle U icle U icle U Katchpur- 25,5 54, 45,2 92, 63,8 126, 88,1 169, 121, 227, Narsingdi 66 133 12 460 48 734 50 875 568 121 Narsingdi- 19,5 40, 34,7 69, 49,4 96,3 68,8 129, 95,8 174, Bhairab 89 938 15 860 74 32 92 836 27 540 Sarail- 26,7 38, 45,5 64, 68,3 91,9 99,7 128, 144, 179, Jagadishpur 85 687 25 110 95 70 01 623 635 373 Jagadishpur- 12,5 29, 20,7 48, 29,3 66,7 40,4 89,7 55,6 120, Shayestaganj 08 628 77 370 68 14 93 04 82 053 Shayestaganj- 12,0 27, 20,5 45, 29,3 63,2 41,0 85,4 57,0 114, Sherpur 21 718 39 667 87 51 08 46 91 963 22,7 36, 40,1 61, 59,1 85,9 84,9 118, 121, 162, Sherpur-Sylhet 40 629 57 054 96 64 76 304 663 565 (Source: Traffic Survey and Analysis, Draft Detailed Engineering Report, 2020)

E. Proposed Upgrading and Improvement of the Project Road

105. The project road improvement will mostly follow special codal provisions relevant to highways prescribed by the design code standards of Geometric Design Standard and Manual 2005 of RHD and Geometric Design of Highway and Streets of American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 2001, Asian Highway Classification Design standards of United Union’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Overseas Road Note 6 “A Guide to Geometric Design” published by TRRL 1988. The improvement / upgradation of Dhaka (Katchpur) -Sylhet Project road involves the following activities: • Widening of Dhaka- Sylhet 2-lane national highways (N2) to 4-lane national highway (N2) configuration with SMVT on both sides; • Construction of SMVT route; • Improved realignments at the congested areas and new bridge approach;

4 Survey sections are Traffic Forecast Katchpur-Narsingdi, Traffic Forecast Katchpur-Narsingdi, Traffic Forecast Sarail-Jagadishpur, Traffic Forecast Jagadishpur- Shayestaganj, Traffic Forecast Shayestaganj -Sherpur, Traffic Forecast Sherpur-Sylhet

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• Raising embankment height, and widening of CD structures and provision of roadside drains in water logged sections; • Construction 66 bridges and 305 culverts including a few new cross drainage structures; • Construction of ROBs, roadway Overpass and Flyover at big bazar areas, At- grade U-turns; • Improvement of bus stop/bus shelter, FOBs, pedestrian crossings, rumble strips, wildlife crossings sgnages, footpath cum storm water drains and road intersections improvements; • Construction of Resting areas and Axle load control station; • Mandatory compensatory plantations and additional plantation schemes.

106. The proposed RoW width of the project road at urban and rural areas varies (maximum 70 m and minimum 55 m) according to the total available land and the RoW perimeter has been designed to provide a minimum of 5 meters space between the outer extent of the construction works and boundary line of RoW. This margin will allow full access to all parts of the highway for the maintenance and emergency vehicles parking and equipment placement. No provision for borrow-pits has been considered within the RoW adopted. During road alignment design, land acquisition requirements have been kept to the minimum consistent with design standard.

1. Road Design Speed:

107. The road design speed is reduced where site conditions are restrictive (intersections, bridge approaches, curves, built-up sections, educational and other sensitive receptors, forest and potential wildlife crossing sections, etc.) and adequate land width is not available. In built- up sections, it is generally restricted to 20 kmph. Gradual changes will be introduced by providing successive sections of increasing/decreasing design speeds so that road users become progressively conditioned to such changes. Warning signs have been proposed at DS-7 section near forest areas with reduced speed limit. The adopted geometric design criteria for the project road are shown in Table 9.

Table 9: Adopted Design Criteria for the Project

Sl. No Description Value 1. Speed Control Design Speed (Km/h) 80 Stopping 2. Stopping Sight Distance (SSD) in meter 120 Controls Minimum Curve Radius (m) 500 Horizontal 3. Maximum Super Elevation 5% Controls Minimum Transition (m) 55 Maximum Gradients 4% Minimum K value 35 4. Vertical Controls Vertical Clearance (m) 5.7 Vertical Clearance over Road Track (m) 7.2 Cross Section Carriageway (m) 7.3 Elements for Traffic lane (m) 2x3.65 main Cross-fall 3% carriageway Paved shoulder (m) 1.5 5. (each side) Inner margin (m) 0.3/0.6 Raised central median (m) - New jersey barrier (m) 1.0 - Kerbed (m) 1.2

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Sl. No Description Value

Carriageway (m) 4.2 & 3.6 5.5 SMVT in market area (m) 3% Cross fall

Verge: Cross-Section 1.5 Elements for Width (m) 6. 5% Service Road Cross-fall 1.2 (each side) Barrier Between main carriageway & Service road (m) 0.6 Inner margin (m) 1.5 Footpath (m) (minimum) Embankment slope H=2, V=1 (Source: Draft Detailed Engineering Report, March 2019)

108. Road Cross-Section: Adopted cross section carries 2-lane carriageway (each carriageway 7.3m wide) separated by 1.2m wide Kerb median for rural, 1.0m New Jersey barriers for urban and flanked by 1.5m paved shoulder on each side. Alongside the paved shoulders, 1.2m wide divider is proposed. In general, 0.3m shy distance/ inner margin are proposed along Kerb median, whereas 0.6m proposed for New Jersey barrier. Three different cross sections have been designed for rural and urban/market areas with three different widths 4.2m, 3.6m and 5.5m of SMVT lane are provided for the pedestrians and mixed modal traffic. In above footpath with side drain and utility duct are also proposed.

109. Separate SMVT: The existing traffic on the project road consists of different type of vehicles, such as fast-moving vehicles, slow moving vehicles (SMV) as well local and long- distance vehicles. If SMV are allowed to run on highways alongside the fast-moving ones, traffic congestion occur more frequently and changes of accidents increase. So, two separate SMVT are designed on both sides of the main road for the SMV and local traffic to achieve the optimum speed of the fast-moving vehicles, and maximize capacity and safety of the main carriageway. The SMVT are proposed with a width of 4.2 m for Dhaka to Bhairab (DS-1 to DS-4) and 3.6 m for the rest from Sarail to Sylhet (DS-5 to DS-12) for rural areas and 5.5 m for urban/market areas. The typical cross-sections for Rural and Urban areas of the project road is shown in Figure 4.

110. Cross fall and Side Slopes: Considering the heavy rainfall and poor maintenance of pavement in Bangladesh, a cross fall of 3% has been applied for carriageway and paved shoulder as recommended in RHD’s Standard Design Manual. For the soft shoulder/verge a cross fall of 5.0% is considered as per RHD’s Standard. The embankment construction the side slope at 1V: 2H is proposed for both cut and fills section for the project road.

111. Horizontal Alignments: The new road (horizontal) alignment is designed to follow the existing one as much as possible with minor modifications like easing sharp bends and realigning the short sections to connect some structures constructed or under construction by RHD, and to avoid religious structures like mosques, temple, graveyards, etc. as much possible. Alignment shifting will be done to connect proposed bridges and road overpasses. In long densely built up areas where the existing alignment is winding with sub-standard curves and neither existing alignment improvement, nor the flyover is technically and or economically feasible, the improved realignment has been proposed.

112. Four improved realignment are proposed at urban/congested and constricted sections for smooth movement of traffic and to avoid social disruption and resettlement as follows. • Madhabdi to Panchdona Realignment: To avoid two congested locations at Madhabdi and Panchdona in Narsingdi, a realignment of 7.4 km length is proposed starting at about 3.5 km before Madhabdi and traversing on the left

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side of the existing road and finally connecting the Panchdona – Narsingdi road after 1 km of Panchdona. The Chainage of the proposed realignment is from km 21+500 to km 28+900 and falls in low-lying agriculture lands and water bodies under Contract Package DS-2. • Olipur Realignment: The existing road crosses the level crossing at Olipur in Habiganj district, needs to be replaced by widening and upgrading the existing level crossing within km 125+500 to 126+500 at DS-7 section. In this section, the existing road has sub-standard curve and passes through two small hills (tila) which are part of the Raghunandan Hill at Olipur in Habiganj district. To upgrade the sub-standard curve at this section a realignment with viaduct of 743.76m has been proposed within km 125+500 to km 126+500 in order to avoid the sharp curve of the existing road. The proposed realignment has been shifted to incorporate a minimum curve radius of 500 m with viaduct structure of which about 100m section passes over the forest area of Raghunandan Hill near km 125+900. • Sherpur Realignment: The existing road has 2-lane Sherpur Bridge over Kushiyara river in Habiganj. This bridge will be replaced by a new 4-lane Bridge with Navigational clearances as per requirements of BIWTA. To connect the proposed bridge approach a new realignment of 1.8 km length has been proposed starting from km 184+100 to km 185+900 to avoid huge settlement area having many commercial and residential structures at the intersection point. The proposed realignment passes through low-lying agriculture lands and water bodies under Contract Package DS-10. • Lalabazar to Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar: To avoid the congested area at Habibur Rahman Chattar (HRC) in Sylhet a realignment of about 9 km is proposed from km 212+500 to km 221+500. This modified realignment will meet the Sylhet City Bypass at Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar (PHRC) at km 4 from HRC. This modification will avoid congestion, and also will reduce the road length under Contract Package DS-12B.

113. The comparison or alternative analysis between the existing and proposed realignments are carried out considering the anticipated environmental, social impacts and economic indicators after detail discussion with the client to determine the best option.

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(Source: Draft Detailed Engineering Report, May 2020) Figure 4: Typical Cross-Sections for Rural and Urban Areas

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114. Vertical Alignment: The design level of the sub grade has been fixed with minimum 0.30 m above the Design Flood Level based on 50 years return flood. The vertical alignment of the roads has been designed for smooth transition from elevated bridge/road overpass level to the designed road level. Maximum 4.0% longitudinal gradient has been provided for the approach roads. For connecting the approaches with design road profile and bridge ends vertical curves have been inserted using minimum K values of 35 for Sag curve and 50 for Crest/Hog curve.

115. Intersections and Markets Areas: The widening of existing 2-lane road to a 4-lane configuration is complicated at the road junctions and markets areas due limited available ROW. Thus, to avoid public inconvenience and to curtail the traffic congestion near the Velanagar market area the existing 2-lane overpass at Narshingdi has been proposed to upgrade with 4-lane configuration having connectivity with proposed Flyover at Velanagar market area in Narsingdi. Typical cross section are designed considering the requirement of urban areas with wider SMVT lane , roadside drain and footpath. The proposed twenty six (26) Foot over Bridge, five (5) ROB, six (6) Overpass, one (1) Flyover including realignment sections at various sections are presented in Table 10.

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Table 10. Proposed Community Safety Drainage Structures

Pack Location of Proposed Structures and Realignments age Foot Over Bridge Rail Over Overpas Flyov Realignme Bus Bays /shelters Drains Chainage (km) Bridge s er nts (Chainage (km) Both sides Chainage Chainag Chai Chainage Chainage (km) (km) e (km) nage (km) (km) DS-1 2+050 Textile Mills area Tarabo, 04+136 1.9-2.01 Left, 2.54-2.65 Right 0 - 1.5 = 1.5 km, 5+920 Barpa Bus stand Rupshi 3.9-4.01 Left, 4.49-4.6 Right 55 – 8 = 6.45 km 8+480 US Medical Collage 9.5-9.61 Left, 9.5-9.61 Right 13.08 - 14.61 = 1.53 km Rupganj 13.8-13.91 Left, 13.8-13.91 Total: 9.48 km 17+503 Pachrukhi primary school, Right college 17.6-17.71 Left, 17.6-17.71 Right DS-2 20+680 Purinda Primary school, 32+822 25+632 32+8 21.600- 25.6-25.71 Left, 25.99-26.1 25.02 - 26.29 = 1.27 km College. Mosque Velanagar Shekerch 22 28.800 Right 26.805-27.095 = 0.29 km or Velan Madhabdi- 30-30.11 Left,30-30.11 Right 29.27 - 30.9 = 1.63 km agar Panchdona 33.4-33.51 Left, 33.4-33.51 32.23 - 34.07 = 1.84 km Right 34.15 - 34.77 = 0.62 km Total; 5.650 km DS-3 39+056 39-39.11 Left, 39.49-39.6 38.64 - 40.115 = 1.475 km Itakhola Right 41.6 - 42.35 = 0.75 km 43.2-43.31 Left, 43.49-43.6 42.48 - 44.14 = 1.66 km Right 45.53 - 47.68 = 2.15 km 46.3-46.41 Left, 46.3-46.41 50.02 - 53.5 = 3.48 km Right Total: 9.515 km 50.7-50.81 Left, 51.2-51.31 Right DS-4 65+600 67+040 60.3-60.41Left, 60.3- 53.88 - 54.52 = 0.64 km Bhairab Durjoy 60.41Right 54.68 - 57.14 = 2.46 km Chatter 66.7-66.81Left, 66.9- 59.67 - 61.32 = 1.65 km 67.01Righ 65.36 - 67.85 = 2.49 km Total: 7.240 km

DS-5 93+191 Rampur Jame Mosque, 94+200 81.2-81.31 Left, 81.2-81.31 80.66 - 82.5 = 1.84 Brahmanbaria Amtoli Right 86.31 - 86.88 = 0.57 km 86.96 - 88.28 = 1.32 km

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Pack Location of Proposed Structures and Realignments age Foot Over Bridge Rail Over Overpas Flyov Realignme Bus Bays /shelters Drains Chainage (km) Bridge s er nts (Chainage (km) Both sides Chainage Chainag Chai Chainage Chainage (km) (km) e (km) nage (km) (km) 88.53 - 88.95 = 0.42 km 89 - 90.09 = 1.09 km Total: 5.240 km DS-6 108+156 A. U. High School, 103.2-103.31Left, 102.327 - 103.85 = 1.523 Madhabpur 103.2-103.31 Right km 111-111.11 Left, 109.84 - 112.2 = 2.36 km 111.49-111.6 Right Total: 3.883 km DS-7 125+637 117+000 125.400- 125.6-125.71 Left 116.707 - 117.407 = 0.7 Olipur Ratanpur 126.200 126-126.11 Right km Olipur 132.6-132.71 Left Total: 0.700 km 132.6-132.71 Right DS-8 137+100 135.79-135.9 Left 134.687 - 136.32 = 1.633 Shayestaganj 135.79-135.9 Right km 140.8-140.91 Left 136.52 - 137.76 = 1.24 km 141.1-141.21 Right 137.81 - 138.44 = 0.63 km 148.5-148.61 Left 140.26 - 142.06 = 1.8 km 148.29-148.4 Right 147.377 - 149.78 = 2.403 km Total: 7.706 km DS-9 157+600 Digambar Bazar, 154.2-154.31 Left 154 - 154.89 = 0.89 km Morahid Market, Habiganj, 154.4-154.51 Right 160.097 - 161.58 = 1.483 158+500 Borchor J. I. Madrasha, 161.7-161.81 Left km Rokonpur 161.4-161.51 Right 161.66 - 162.4 = 0.74 km 159+400 Rōkanapur Haphijiẏa 169-169.11 Left 162.46 - 162.8 = 0.34 km madrasa, Nabiganj 169-169.11 Right 168.72 - 169.28 = 0.56 km 163+155 H. S. M. A. Mazar Sharif Total: 4.013 km Nabiganj, Habiganj 164+055 Shataial G. P Primary School Nabiganj 165+255 Muraura Boro J. Mosque Nabiganj Habiganj

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Pack Location of Proposed Structures and Realignments age Foot Over Bridge Rail Over Overpas Flyov Realignme Bus Bays /shelters Drains Chainage (km) Bridge s er nts (Chainage (km) Both sides Chainage Chainag Chai Chainage Chainage (km) (km) e (km) nage (km) (km) 168+355 Joytun J. Mosjid, Nabiganj Angoan DS- 170+455 Sadarghat Natun Bazar 184.700- 176.1-176.21 Left 172.1 – 177 = 4.9 km 10 Nabiganj, Habigan 171+355 Bigna 186.300 175.9-176.01 Right 182.16 - 184.7 = 2.54 km Bazar J. Mosque Nabiganj, Sherpur 184-184.11 Left Total: 7.440 Km Habiganj, 183.8-183.91 Right 172+855 All Amin H. S M 181+455 Al Hera H. Madrasha, Nabiganj 182+655 Nabiganj, Habiganj DS- 188+255 Gozia B. A J. Mosque 195.7-195.81 Left 194.71 - 200.52 = 5.81 km 11 Balaganj, Sylhet, 195.7-195.81 Right Total: 5.810 km 192+955 Tazpur Madrasha, 198.5-198.61 Left Balaganj, 198.8-198.91 Right 193+455 Hazi Irfan J. Mosjid Balaganj DS- 208+505-A, Nazir Bazar J. Masjid, 203-203.11 Left 201.75 - 204.73 = 2.98 km 12A High school Sylhet 203-203.11 Right 210+989-A, Alingar Nagar & School, Sadar, Sylhet DS- 212+100-B, A. P. B. HQ, Mosjid 221+500 213.000 - 213.3-213.41 Left 212.5 - 213.94 = 1.44 km 12 B Sylhet Sadar, Sylhet PHRC 222.600 213.3-213.41 Right 217.44 - 218.5 = 1.06 km 221+990-B, Peer Human Chattar, Lalabazar - 220.85 - 222.6 = 1.75 km Kotwali, Sylhet Sylhet Total: = 4.25 km

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Loan No.: xxxx-BNG

116. Drains: Roadside drainage facilities are also to be required at number of locations where the road passes through markets and local markets (bazars). The proposed total length of rectangular footpath cum covered roadside drains under all contract packages is 73.907 km.

117. Traffic Sign and Road markings: Traffic Signs Manual 2004 of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will be followed in the Project and 80 kmph design speed is recommended in the RHD Standard for the national and regional highways. The 85th percentile value of speed will be used as the basis of design, which means 15 percent of the vehicles could exceed the design speed. Transitions and traffic signs will be designed for smooth and safe plying of vehicles.

118. For night traffic, the proposed reflectors at railings are very necessary. There is a need use them also at the ends of islands, in front of raised zebra crossings and humps and along the median and edge marking (especially in curves and at junctions – island ends are commonly broken, today). In nighttime, the reflectors would indicate changes in traffic environment (e.g. junction/bazaar), and thus, improve safety. Reflectors also make a moving pedestrian visible in darkness as a kind of a shadow, when he/she moves in front of the reflection of light beam. The proposed traffic signs and features for the safety of road users are as follows; • Road markings (edge and centerlines and between lanes) • Adequate safety and cautionary sign and signal • Well marked zebra crossings (painted stripes) • Marking of any hump on road in driving direction • Refuges at pedestrian crossing • Well maintained junction areas, with enough but not too much space • Good guardrails at both at edges and the centerline • Well-designed minor road sections leading to the main highway (including the waiting area at about the same level as the main road • Using SMVT lanes / roads as local connection and thus avoiding unnecessary short distance traffic to access the main road etc.

2. Bridges and Culverts:

119. The existing bridge and culverts are mostly 2-lane structures with poor condition and inadequate to handle the drainage flow across the road, those need to be reconstructed including construction of new cross drainage structures. To control the drainage congestion of the catchment areas, a total number of 371 bridges and culverts of 4-lane are proposed, of which 66 are major to minor bridges and the rest 305 are culverts. The number of proposed cross drainage structures with different freeboard and design with 50-100 years return periods of flood water level for the culverts, minor and major bridges are shown in Table 11.

Table 11: New and Reconstruction of Culverts and Bridges

Return period Re- Retain with Freeboard of Design Cross Drainage New Total construction widening (m) Flood WL, Q and V

Box Culverts 24 281 - 305

Minor Bridge 1 45 - 46 1.50 50

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Loan No.: xxxx-BNG

Return period Re- Retain with Freeboard of Design Cross Drainage New Total construction widening (m) Flood WL, Q and V

Major Bridge 0 20 - 20 3.00 50

DS 1-12(A+B) 25 346 - 371 Total

120. Bridge construction will require placement of bored piles, using drilling mud followed by the pile casings being filled with concrete. Drilled piling is preferred in both situations whether on ground or in water. Anticipated vibration from drilled piling is minimal to cause any structural damage or any likely impact on locally sensitive faunal species or other sensitive receptors. No other sensitivity is anticipated as of now. However, flexibility in the piling method to be employed is included in the EMP to ensure that the method is responsive to the sensitivity identified during actual works. All other elements of the Bridge, namely the pile caps and piers will be fixed in place on top of the pile cap. The Bridge deck, consisting of precast concrete lengths as well as steel girders will be set in place from the Bridge as it is built and super structurers. The construction works from the water body also requires using special cranes on barges.

121. The Bridge Roadway Configurations for the different new bridge’s requirements are shown in Figure 5. The Type-B1 for Urban Area and Type-B2 for Rural Area are designed with road median is 1.2m and 1.0m, a new 4-lane bridge with two bi-directional service road are proposed. Where the existing bridge retained as for the SMVT, a new 4-lane bridge with outer side bi-directional service road is proposed asType-C1 for Urban Area and Type-C2 for Rural Area.

122. Where an elevated 4-lane roadway (Type-D) is proposed, SMVT will not be provided alongside the elevated main carriageways. To cater local traffic wishing to cross the opposite side of the road, or wishing to cross the railway line, underpass will be provided. For the Railway Overpasses a separate Type-E are proposed instead of Type-D. Railway Overpasses are to be minimum horizontal opening of 20.725m and a vertical clearance from the top of the rails to the underside of the structure of 7.3m, as required by .

123. For designing the large Bridge, BIWTA’s inland navigable class river standards were adopted according to the BIWTA’s river classification standard for horizontal and vertical clearances. To minimize obstruction to the waterways and keep the embankment height within permissible soil capacity are proposed at approaches of major Bridge locations over Arial Kha, Old Brahmaputra, Kushiyara rivers, those are large major Bridges (>100m span). The large major 10 bridges over the river crossings are shown below in Google earth image in Figure 6.

124. Where bridges are located in or close to urban areas the provision for future installation of roadway lighting is to be incorporated within the structure. Also, major bridges more than 100m long, which cross navigation channels shall have provision for navigation lights to guide vessels beneath the bridges.

125. Guard Rail or Crash barriers are designed for all bridge locations under DS-1 to DS- 11 for safety purpose. All bridge approach with high embankment height will be provided with chute drains with outlet connected to filtration system via a reed filled discharge pond within the RoW to prevent surface contamination of roads into local waterways.

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Loan No.: xxxx-BNG

DECK TYPE-A1 (URBAN AREA) DECK TYPE-A2 (RURAL AREA) Applied in places of New bridge or existing bridge is replaced by new one. Approach road not split

DECK TYPE-B1 (URBAN AREA) DECK TYPE-B2 (RURAL AREA) Applied in places of New bridge or existing bridge is replaced by new one. Approach road split

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Loan No.: xxxx-BNG

DECK TYPE-C1 (URBAN AREA) DECK TYPE-C2 (RURAL AREA) Applied in places of New bridge or existing bridge is replaced by new one. Approach road not split

DECK YYPE-D Applied in places of New Flyover / Rail over Bridge DECK TYPE-E Applied in places of Rail over bridges

Figure 5: Proposed Bridge Roadway Configuration

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Loan No.: xxxx-BNG

Kundapara Bridge Over Arial Khan Branch Shibpur Bridge over Arial Khan River River Chainage km 54+453 Chainage km 42+300 Contract Package Number: DS-4 Contract Package Number; DS-3 Existing Type RC BR, Length/Width 155 Existing Type RC BR, Length/Width 110 Existing Size 5-(32.5+30.6+32+30.5+33) Existing Size 4-(32.1+30.5+23.1+24.8) Proposed Type PC BR Proposed Type PC BR Proposed Size 12 Proposed Size 7- (33.53+33.53+33.53+33.53+33.53 30.48+30.48+30.48+30.48+30.48+30 +33.53+33.53+33.53+33.53+33.53+33.53+33.5 .48+30.48) 3) Proposed Length / Width 213.36 Proposed Length / Width 402.36 NEW TYPE-C1 BRIDGE NEW TYPE-B1 BRIDGE Latitude 23.993691, Longitude 90.759124 Latitude 24.046868, Longitude 90.862177

Lokkhipur Bridge over Old Brahmaputra Shahbazpur Bridge over Titas River River Chainage km 88+280 Chainage km m64+739 Contract Package Number DS-5 Contract Package Number DS- 4 Existing Type RC BR Existing Type PC BR, Existing Length/Width 400 Existing Size: 9(25.20+25.20+25.00+27.57+ Existing Size11- 41.07+34.00+25.50+25.00+25.20) (2x38.9+38.5+6x39.1+39.3+38.71) Existing Length/Width 253.74 Proposed Type PC BR Proposed Type PC BR Proposed Size 15- Proposed Size 3-(24.39+24.39+24.39) +1- (39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63+ 27.44+1-42.68+1-33.53+3-(24.39+24.39+24.39) 39.63+39.63+39. Proposed Length / Width 249.99 63+39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63+ NEW SINGLE TYPE-B1 BRIDGE 39.63+39.63+39.63) Latitude 24.046173, Longitude 91.177214 Proposed Length / Width 594.45 NEW TYPE-C2 BRIDGE Latitude 24.057628, Longitude 90.961185

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Rampur bridge over Titas River Shutan bazar Bridge Over Sutang River Chainage km 91+808 Chainage km 127+851 Contract Package Number: DS- 5 Contract Package Number: DS- 7 Existing Type PC BR, Existing Length/Width 64.1 Str. ID in Drawing BR039 Existing Size 3-(16.35+30.65+16.5) Existing Type PC BR Proposed Type PC BR Existing Size 3-(25.9+31+25.9) Proposed Size :7- Existing Length/Width 82.8 (33.53+33.53+33.53+33.53+33.53 Proposed Type PC BR +33.53+33.53) Proposed Size 3-(33.53+33.53+33.53) Proposed Length / Width 234.71 Proposed Length / Width 100.59 NEW TYPE-A2 BRIDGE NEW TYPE-C2 BRIDGE Latitude 24.040999, Longitude 91.207813 Latitude 24.2764, Longitude 91.403935

Sayestagonj Bridge Khowai River Bisrapar Bridge over Bianar River Chainage km 136+316 Chainage km 171+489 Contract Package Number DS-8 Contract Package Number: DS- 10 Existing Type TRS BR, Existing Length/Width Existing Type PC BR. Length/Widthn140 200 Existing Size 4-(30+40+40+30) Existing Size 3-(58.3+82.4+58.3) Proposed Type PC BR Proposed Type PC BR Proposed Size 4-(39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63) Proposed Size 5- Proposed Length / Width 158.52 (42.68+42.68+42.68+42.68+42.68) NEW TYPE-C2 BRIDGE Proposed Length / Width 213.4 Latitude 24.551141, Longitude 91.605588 NEW TYPE-A1 BRIDGE Latitude 24.270133, Longitude 91.478587

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Sherpur Bridge over Kushiyara River Shadipur Bridge Over Kushiyara River Chainage km 185+185 Chainage km 187+271 Contract Package Number: DS-10 Contract Package Number: DS- 11 Existing Type TRS BR, Length/Width 282.35 Existing Type TRS BR, Existing Length/Width Existing Size 5-(87.75+7.55+87.75+87.75+7.55) 160.7 Proposed Type PC BOX Existing Size 3-(18.7+119.2+19.8) Proposed Size 5- Proposed Type PC BR, Proposed Size8- (39.630+39.630+39.630+39.630+ (39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63+39.63 39.630) +40.550+60.700 + 3- +39.63) (90.000+90.000+90.000) Proposed Length / Width 317.04, +60.700+40.550+4X NEW TYPE-C2 BRIDGE (39.630+39.630+39.630+39.630) Latitude 24.642201, Longitude 91.690782 Proposed Length / Width 829.17 BOX GIRDER BRIDGE WITH PC GIRDER Latitude 24.629417 Longitude 91.679194Latitude 24.629417 Longitude 91.679194

Figure 6. Large Major Bridges (>100m span)

3. Pavement Design:

126. These road portions will be strengthened for using as service road adopting the following procedure: • Bituminous layers will remove from site. • Exposed granular layer top portion will remove and the surface to be prepared by levelling and compacting. • Base course Type-1 new materials will be used on the prepared surface according to engineering drawing and specification. • Bituminous base course and wearing course to be placed on base course Type-1 according to drawing and specification. • VG40, 80-100 and modified polymer will be used in the project.

4. Protection Works:

Grass turfing of side slopes and on the shoulder of road embankment of the project will be done to prevent the soil erosion. Native turfing species of Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides, locally known as binna grass) has been primarily selected for its adaptability and easy availability throughout the country. Effectiveness of vetiver grass against rain-cut erosion and tidal wave in coastal zones of Bangladesh has been examined using several studies and field trials. It tolerates high heat, drought and saline conditions. It has high turf density which reduces weed invasion. Bridge abutments/ approaches and culvert inlets shall be protected by CC blocks and geotextile filter fabric in accordance with the engineering specifications. The reinforce earth wall also proposed at approaches bridges/ culvers, at Over Passes (OVP) and Rail Over Passes (ROB). The proposed quantities of protection work of the project is

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presented in Table 12. Highest quantities of C.C. blocks including Geotextile protection will be required in DS-10, and particularly for protection of wave action near Sherpur Bridge.

Table 12: Proposed Protection Works of the Project

Contract Grass Turfing C.C. blocks Reinforced Locations of Protection (Quantity including Earth Wall Works Packages Sqm) Geotextile (Quantity Sqm) (Quantity Sqm)

DS-1 489,600 65,177 3,150 Road Embankment slope abutment of all bridges, DS-2 459,000 34,251 10,395 Viaduct, Flyover, Overpasses and Rail over DS-3 720,514 42,174 3,150 Briddge

DS-4 430,500 117,549 6,300

DS-5 508,680 139,788 3,150

DS-6 458,400 106,149

DS-7 589,680 37,436 6,300

DS-8 501,840 119,813 6,300

DS-9 78,340 111,622

DS-10 514,080 226,728

DS-11 380,700 82,648

DS12-A 359,640 35,907

DS12-B 346,680 24,447 3,150

Total 6,337,654 1,143,689 41,895

Grand Total 7,523,238

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5. Salient Features of Basic Design:

127. The basic design features under 13 Contract Package of the project road is presented in Table 13. Table 13. Basic Road Design Features of the Project Road

EXISTING ROAD’S SALIENT FEATURES PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT

Contract Package DS-1 . Executable Length:18+000 km . Length: 00+000 to 18+000 km . RoW: 70 m . Location: Starts from Katchpur Intersection to . Configuration: 18 km road Sonpara Bus Stand . Proposed Av. Embankment Height: 2.3 m . RoW: 55 m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved shoulder . Configuration: 2-Lane with flexible pavement = 1.5 with moderate conditions except at a few . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median = distress locations. 1.2 . Junction/Intersections: 3 majors, 15 minor. . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) . Minor Bridge:1 =4.2 Rural Area . Major Bridge:1 . in market area=5.5. Cross fall 3%, . Slab culverts and 6 Box Culverts. SMVT lane Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier . Terrain and Land use: Land use mainly Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 urban/ industrial areas. . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: 1 Bridge type . Foot overpass: 4 . Rail Over Bridge: Nil . Bus shelters on both sides: 10 . Junction improvements: 3 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 1 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Reconstruction Total Drainage

Box 0 6 6 Culverts

Minor 0 1 1 Bridge

Major 0 1 1 Bridge

Total 0 8 8

. Side Drain: 9.48 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-2 . Executable Length: 17+000 km . Length=18+000 to 35+000 km . ROW: 70 m. . Location: Starts from Sonpara Bus Stand to . Configuration; 17 km road BSCIS Narsingdi . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 5.8 m . ROW: 45m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m):7.3, . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved shoulder . Configuration) 2-Lane with flexible pavement 1.5, with moderate conditions except at few . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median 1.2 distress locations. . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m): 4.2 . Junction/Intersections: 2 major, 32 minor. Rural Area & 5.5 Urban Area . Minor Bridge: 0 . in market area=5.5. Cross fall 3%, . Major Bridge: 1 SMVT lane . Slab culverts, and 12 Box Culverts with side Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 drain . Flyover: 1 . Terrain and Land use: Mainly urban/ industrial areas. . Overpass: 1 . Foot overpas:1 . Rail Over Bridge: 1 . Bus shelters on both sides:6 . Realignment: Madhabdi- Panchdona . Junction improvements: 2 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 1 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Reconstruction Total Drainage

Box 9 12 21 Culverts

Minor 1 0 1 Bridge

Major 0 1 1 Bridge

Total 10 13 23

. Side Drain: 5.650 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-3 . Executable Length: 18+500 km . Length:35+000 to 53+500 km . RoW: 70 m. . Location: Starts from BSCIS Narsingdi to . Configuration; 18+500 km road Marco LPG Filling Station . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 7.5 m . RoW: 45m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved . Configuration: 2-Lane with flexible pavement shoulder=1.5, . With moderate conditions except at few . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median= distress locations. 1.2 . Junction/Intersections: 1 major, 5 minor. . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) = . Minor Bridge: 1 4.2 Rural Area . Major Bridge:1 . in market area 5.5. Cross fall 3%, . Slab culverts, and 33 Box Culverts with Side SMVT lane Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier drain Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 . Terrain and Land use: Mainly Rural areas. . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: 1 . Rail Over Bridge: Nil . Bus shelters on both sides:8 . Junction improvements: 1 major junction to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 3 . Rest Area: 1 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re- Total Drainage construction

Box 0 33 33 Culverts

Minor 0 1 1 Bridge

Major 0 1 1 Bridge

Total 0 35 35

. Side Drain: 9.515 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-4 . Executable Length: 14+350 km . Length: 53+500 to 67+850km . ROW: 70m. . Location: Starts from Marco LPG Filling . Configuration; 14+350 km road Station to Bhairab Bridge West End Toll . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 3.2 m Plaza . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . RoW: 45 m. . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m shoulder= 1.5, . Junction/Intersections: 1 major, 10 minor. . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median . Minor Bridge: 5 =1.2 . Major Bridge: 2 . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) . Slab culverts and 11 Box Culverts with side =4.2 Rural Area drain. . in Urban/market area=5.5. Cross . Terrain and Land use: Mainly Rural end side SMVT lane fall 3%, Verge: Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier Urban areas. Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: 1 Bridge Type . Rail Over Bridge: 1 . Bus shelters on both sides:4 . Junction improvements: 2 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 2 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Reconstruction Total Drainage

Box 0 11 11 Culverts

Minor 0 5 5 Bridges

Major 0 2 2 Bridges

Total 0 18 18

. Side Drain: 7.240 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-5 . Executable Length: 16+150 km . Length: 80.500 to 97+300 km . RoW: 70m. . Location: Starts from After Abdul Kuddus . Configuration; 15+700 km road Makhon Chattar to Budhani Bus Stand . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 3.6 m . RoW: 60 m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved . Configuration: 2-Lane with flexible pavement shoulder= 1.5, with moderate conditions except at few . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median= distress locations. 1.2 . Junction/Intersections: 1 major, 5 minor. . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) . Minor Bridge: 7 =3.6 Rural Area . Major Bridge:3 . in market area=5.5. Cross fall 3%, . Slab culverts and Box Culverts 10 with Side SMVT lane Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier drain Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 . Terrain and Land use: Mainly Rural areas. . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: 1 Box type . Foot overpas:1 . Rail Over Bridge: Nil . Bus shelters on both sides:2 . Junction improvements: 0 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 1 . Rest area: 1 at Ch. 82+400 km . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Reconstruction Total Drainage

Box 0 12 12 Culverts

Minor 0 7 7 Bridges

Major 0 4 4 Bridges

Total 0 23 23

. Side Drain: 5.240 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-6 . Executable Length: 19+100 km . Length: 97+300 to 116+400 km . RoW: 70m. . Location: Starts from Budhani Bus Stand to S . Configuration; 19+100 km road M Spinning Mills Ltd . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 4 m . RoW: 50 m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved . Configuration). shoulder= 1.5 . Junction/Intersections: 1 major, 31 minor. . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median = . Minor bridge, 6 1.2 . Major Bridge:1 . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) = . Slab culverts and Box Culverts 25 with Side 3.6 Rural Area drain . in Urban/ market area= 5.5, Cross . Terrain and Land use: Mainly Rural/ Industrial SMVT lane fall 3%, Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier areas. Between main carriageway & Service road 12 . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: Nil . Foot overpass: 1 . Rail Over Bridge: Nil . Bus shelters on both sides:4 . Junction improvements: 2 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 2 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re- Total Drainage construction

Box Culverts 0 25 25

Minor 0 6 6 Bridges

Major Bridge 0 1 1

Total 0 32 32

. Side Drain: 3.883 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-7 . Executable Length:18+200 km . Length:116+400 to 134+600 km . RoW: 65 m. . Location: Starts from S M Spinning Mills Ltd . Configuration; 18+200 km road to Shayestaganj Bypass BM . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 5.3 m . RoW: 40m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved . Configuration: 2-Lane with flexible pavement shoulder= 1.5, . with moderate conditions except at few . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median= distress locations. 1.2 . Junction/Intersections: 1 major, 23 minor. . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) = . Minor bridge, 1 3.6 Rural Area . Major Bridge:1 . in market area=5.5. Cross fall 3%, . Slab culverts and Box Culverts 42 SMVT lane Verge: Width= 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier . Terrain and Landuse: Land use mainly Rural Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 end side Urban areas. . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: 1 . Rail Over Bridge: 1 . Bus shelters on both sides:4 . Realignment: Olipur level crossing . Junction improvements: 0 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 0 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re- Total Drainage construction

Box 0 42 42 Culverts

Minor 0 1 1 Bridge

Major 0 1 1 Bridge

Total 0 44 44

. Side Drain: 0.700 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-8 . Executable Length: 16+400 km . Length: 134+600 to 151+000km . RoW: 70 m. . Location: Starts from Shayestaganj Bypass . Configuration; 16+400 km road BM Auto Gas Filling Station to Square . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 7 m Textiles Land Bahubal . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =:7.3, . RoW: 40m. . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m shoulder= 1.5, . Junction/Intersections: 1 major, 35 minor. . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median . Minor Bridge: 3 =1.2 . Major Bridge: 2 . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) . Slab culverts, and 24 Box Culverts with Side =3.6 Rural Area drain . in Urban/ market area=5.5. Cross . Terrain and Land use: Rural areas. SMVT lane fall 3%, Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: Nil . Rail Over Bridge: 1 . Bus shelters on both sides:6 . Junction improvements: 2 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 3 . Rest area: 1 at 137+900 km . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re- Total Drainage construction

Box Culverts 2 24 26

Minor 0 3 3 Bridges

Major 0 2 2 Bridges

Total 2 29 31

. Side Drain: 7.706 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-9 . Executable Length: 18+900 km . Length: 151+000 to 169+900km . RoW: 65m. . Location: Starts from Square Textiles Land . Configuration; 18+900 km road Bahubal to Sadarghat Natun Bazar Jame . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 4.3 m Masjid . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . RoW: 45 m. . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved shoulder . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m =1.5 . Configuration: 2-Lane with flexible pavement . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median with moderate conditions except at few =1.2 distress locations. . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) . Junction/Intersections: 0 major, 46 minor. =3.6 Rural Area . Minor bridge, 8 . in market area=5.5. Cross fall 3%, . Major Bridge:1 SMVT lane Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier . Slab culverts, and 68 Box Culverts with Side Between main carriageway & Service road 1.2 drain . Flyover: Nil . Terrain and Land use: Rural areas. . Overpass: Nil . Foot overpas:7 . Rail Over Bridge: Nil . Bus shelters on both sides:4 . Junction improvements: 0 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 1 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re Total Drainage construction

Box Culverts 0 68 68

Minor 0 8 8 Bridges

Major Bridge 0 1 1

Total 0 77 77

. Side Drain: 4.013 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-10 . Executable Length: 16+800 km . Length: 169+900 to 186+700 km . RoW: 70m. . Location: Starts from Sadarghat Natun Bazar . Configuration; 16+800 km road Jame Masjid to Sherpur Bridge Toll Plaza . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 5.3 m . RoW: 40 m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3 . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved shoulder . Junction/Intersections: 2 major, 23 minor. =1.5 . Minor Bridge, 7 . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median . Major Bridge: 4 =1.2 . Slab culverts, and 22 Box Culverts with Side . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) drain =3.6 Rural Area . Terrain and Land use: . in Urban/market area=5.5. Cross . Rural areas. SMVT lane fall 3%, Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier Between main carriageway & Service road =1.2 . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: Nil . Foot overpas:5 . Rail Over Bridge: . Bus shelters on both sides:4 . Realignment: Sherpur . Junction improvements: 3 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 2 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re Total Drainage construction

Box Culverts 1 22 23

Minor 0 9 9 Bridges

Major 0 4 4 Bridges

Total 1 35 36

. Side Drain: 7.440 Km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-11 . Executable Length: 14+100 km . Length:186+700 to 200+800 km . RoW: 70m. . Location: Starts from Sherpur Bridge Toll . Configuration; 14+100 km road Plaza to Khasikapon Bazar - . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 7.2m . RoW: 40m. . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved shoulder . Configuration: 2-Lane with flexible pavement = 1.5, with moderate conditions except at few . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median= distress locations. 1.2 . Junction/Intersections: 0 major, 22 minor. . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) . Minor bridge, 4 =3.6 Rural Areas . Major Bridge: 2 . in Urban/ market area=5.5. Cross . Slab culverts, and 10m Box Culverts with SMVT lane fall 3%, Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier Side drain . Terrain and Land use: Rural with Urban Between main carriageway & Service road =1.2 . Flyover: Nil areas. . Overpass: Nil . Foot overpas:3 . Rail Over Bridge: Nil . Bus shelters on both sides:4 . Junction improvements: 0 major junctions to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 2 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re- Total Drainage construction

Box 0 10 10 Culverts

Minor 0 4 4 Bridges

Major 0 2 2 Bridges

Total 0 16 16

. Side Drain: 5.810 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-12 A

. Length: 200+800 to 211+900 km . Executable Length: 11+100 km . Location: Starts from Khasikapon Bazar - . RoW: 65 m. Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar . Configuration; 11+100 km road . RoW: 40m. . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 5.3 m . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Junction/Intersections: 3 major, 28 minor. . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved shoulder . Minor Bridge: 0 = 1.5, . Major Bridge: 0 . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median= . Slab culverts and 18 Box Culverts with Side 1.2 drain . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) . Terrain and Land use: =3.6 Rural Area . Rural and Urban areas. . SMVT lane in market area= 5.5. Cross fall 3%, Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier Between main carriageway & Service road= 1.2 . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: Nil . Foot overpas:2 . Rail Over Bridge: 0 . Bus shelters on both sides:2 . Realignment: Lalabazar-Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar . Junction improvements: 0 major junction to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 1 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re- Total Drainage construction

Box 0 15 15 Culverts

Minor 0 0 0 Bridge

Major 0 0 0 Bridge

Total 0 15 15

. Side Drain:2.98 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

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Contract Package DS-12 B

. Length: 211+900 to 222+562 km . Executable Length: 10+700 km . Location: Starts from Khasikapon Bazar - . RoW: 65 m. Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar . Configuration; 10+700 km road . RoW: 40m. . Proposed Av. Embankment Height; 5.3 m . Existing Embankment Height; 1-2 m . Main Carriageway (each side in m) =7.3, . Configuration). . Traffic lane 3.65, Cross-fall 3%, Paved shoulder . Junction/Intersections: 3 major, 28 minor. = 1.5, . Minor Bridge: 0 . Inner margin 0.3/0.6, Raised central median= . Major Bridge: 0 1.2 . Slab culverts and 18 Box Culverts with Side . Service Road: Carriageway (each side in m) drain =3.6 Rural Area . Terrain and Land use: . SMVT lane in market area= 5.5. Cross fall 3%, . Rural and Urban areas. Verge= Width 1.5, Cross-fall 5%, Barrier Between main carriageway & Service road= 1.2 . Flyover: Nil . Overpass: Nil . Foot overpass: 2 . Rail Over Bridge: 1 . Bus shelters on both sides:2 . Realignment: Lalabazar-Peer Habibur Rahman Chattar . Junction improvements: 1 major junction to be improved . At Grade U-Turn: 1 . Cross Drainage Structures:

Cross New Re- Total Drainage construction

Box 12 1 13 Culverts

Minor 0 0 0 Bridge

Major 0 0 0 Bridge

Total 12 1 13

. Side Drain: 4.25 km Rectangular Covered Drain (Both Sides)

F. Construction Materials, Sourcing and Utilities Need

128. Quantity of the major construction materials like earth/ sand, cement, steel, aggregate and bitumen requirement for the project and their sources are presented in Table 14. The construction materials will be procured by the Contractors at their own responsibility from legal sources, subject to satisfactory compliance of applicable statutory and other legal requirements of Bangladesh. The project will be implemented through EPC contract mode, where EPC contractor is free to procure the material from any licensed quarry. Contract conditions specify that contractor can procure the material only from vendor having requisite permits and the EA should ensure this through due diligence as included in the Dredged Materials Management Plan in Chapter V.

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129. Earth or Embankment Fills. The present practices in Bangladesh is to construct the roadway embankments with river sand rather than clayey agricultural soil. Sand can be easily compacted to a high degree of compaction, but requires protection against erosion by cladding with a layer of cohesive soil. The embankments for new carriageways on this project have been designed based on the use of river sand with a CBR value estimated as 10% or greater. River sand is a good fill material with higher CBR value. There are many rivers located adjacent the project area and the Contractor will collect the fill materials from the nearby river at their convenient.

130. Concrete Aggregate. Stone aggregates from Sylhet quarries are commonly used for the manufacture of normal and high strength concrete and it is proposed to be used for these roads as well. It is also planed to import the stone from India or other foreign countries. Stone aggregates will be sourced from existing licensed quarries from local, like in Tamabil, Sylhet or imported from neighboring countries.

131. Cement and Steel Reinforcement. Bangladesh produces different classes of EN and ASTM standard cement and high strength deformed bar of 40, 60 and 75 grades. These materials are readily available in Bangladesh. The renowned Fenchuganj Cement Factory and some cement factories are also located at closest distance from the Project area. There many steel rolling mills are established in Bangladesh, like KSRM, BSRM Bandar Steel Industries Ltd. High-tech Steel & Re-Rolling Mills etc.

132. Bitumen. Bitumen will be imported. Commonly used bitumen in the road construction industry in Bangladesh is 80-100 penetration grade bitumen. However, VG40, 80-100 and modified polymer are proposed for this project and will be collected from the abroad.

133. Water: Two types of water consumption will need to be managed, i) water used with construction materials such as concrete mixing and compaction; ii) Project operating water for site offices, construction yards and construction camps. Sources of the non-potable water for the construction works and sanitation purpose will come mostly be from shallow aquifer. Drinking water may be taken from the deep aquifer, if the shallow aquifer is contaminated with excessive Iron and Arsenic. In addition, the contractor will supply safe drinking water at the construction sites and offices. An overhead tank and water reservoir will be constructed to supply water facilities within the premises of site project office and the rest areas.

134. Sewerage and Waste: Project site office, contractor’s offices, construction yard and construction camps will have sanitary toilets with proper solid/liquid waste management facilities. Sufficient numbers of the toilets will be provided in all construction camps for the workers, offices and construction yard, at a formula of one toilet for every 15-18 persons.

135. Energy: The project area is mostly urban and semi urban and therefore electricity will be provided from the national grid.

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Table 14. Quantity and Sourcing of Construction Materials

Package Chainage km Length Quantity Requirement Start End (Km) Earth Sand Cement Steel Aggregates (Cum) Bitumen (MT) (Cum) (Cum) (MT) (MT) Stone Bricks 80/100 VG40 Modified Polymer DS-1 00+000 18+000 18 1,711,547 304,348 23,140 6,041 209,399 142,897 761 9,645 4,284

DS-2 18+000 35+000 17 1,603,417 349,665 45,816 13,703 252,330 135,123 744 8,917 4,179

DS-3 35+000 53+500 18.5 1,265,428 347,039 27,851 8,221 323,650 155,136 868 7,561 4,719

DS-4 53+500 67+850 14.35 1,109,037 336,397 50,527 15,611 294,094 112,179 625 5,830 3,656 DS-5 81+600 97+300 16.15 2,459,213 308,377 41,999 14,798 290,871 117,619 687 7,137 3,843 DS-6 97+300 116+400 19.1 2,199,618 364,528 24,290 7,542 299,062 146,993 859 8,839 4,603 DS-7 116+400 134+600 18.2 1,093,279 414,381 15,384 7,132 294,583 135,179 789 8,208 4,305 DS-8 134+600 151+000 16.4 1,729,715 520,263 44,148 14,539 313,686 127,108 713 6,356 3,912 DS-9 151+000 169+900 18.9 2,795,488 771,544 35,518 13,295 317,590 143,707 844 7,607 4,561 DS-10 169+900 186+700 16.8 3,960,294 720,996 44,234 15,139 404,407 123,749 719 6,440 4,046 DS-11 186+700 200+800 14.1 2,865,439 456,945 20,793 8,135 232,577 109,045 618 6,118 3,401 DS-12 200+800 222+600 21.8 2,539,366 716,893 31,522 8,797 357,477 145,826 934 9,338 4,911

Total 209.3 Sourcing of the Materials • Cement from Fenchuganj cement factory or other nearby factories. • Sand from Kushiyara, Old Brahmaputra, and Surma rivers etc. nearby rivers. • Steel from KSRM, BSRM from Chittagong. • Aggregates from Jaflong Tamabil, Sylhet and neighboring countries. • Bitumen from neighboring countries. Source: Draft Detailed Engineering Report, 2020

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G. Social and Resettlement Considerations

136. The total requirement or land acquisition for the project is 582.758 Ha mostly from privately owned lands. Beside the land acquisition, number of titled and non-titled residential households and commercial structures are also affected. All technical efforts and optimisation have been undertaken to minimize these impacts. The scope of social safeguard works for the project includes (i) census and socioeconomic surveys of all effected households and structures (residential, commercial, community structures), (ii) consultation with affected communities and stakeholders; (iii) property valuation survey (land, structures, trees) for replacement value; (iv) preparation and disclosure of RP, including the project entitlement policy and matrix; and (v) gender and social inclusion plan and (vi) income and livelihood restoration plan of the affected people as well as vulnerable groups. These works are acomplished by resettlement and social teams and compiled seperately in the Resettlement Plan (RP) and Gender Equality and Social inclusion (GESI) Plan reports.

H. Implementation Schedule of the Project

137. Project construction period will be 48 months (4 years) after the land acquisition process is substantially completed whereas for 24 months (2 years) construction period may be considered for individual sub-project or contract packages followed by 1-year performance- based maintenance. Estimated total project cost is approximately BDT 14,188.6 crore.

138. Project Implementing Unit (PIU), Project Implementation Consultant (PIC) and the Contractor will collectively ensure the implementation of the project EMP and EMoP. Compliance monitoring work will be carried out by the PIU, headed by RHD’s Project Director, and supported the PIC.

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IV DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

139. The baseline condition in the locality of the project serves as the basis for identification, prediction and evaluation of impacts. The baseline environmental quality is assessed through field studies within the impact zone for various components of the environment, viz. air, noise, water, land and socio-economic etc. Broadly, the baseline condition is studied on following components as follows; • Physical Resources • Ecological Resources • Socio-economic Development and Socio-Culture Resources

A. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

140. The physical environment comprises the physicochemical parameters of the existing environment. Physicochemical parameters of the impacted environment are climate, topography, hydrological, geology, soils, seismicity of the project area.

1. Climate:

141. Bangladesh is located in a sub-tropical monsoon zone and has four main seasons namely, winter characterized by minimum temperature 11-16 °C (November to February); pre- monsoon or summer is hot and humid (March to May); monsoon (June to August) and post- monsoon (September to November). To assess the climatic variation of the project area, the recorded data on average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures, monthly maximum, minimum and annually average rainfalls, annually humidity, monthly average prevailing wind speed during the years of 2009-2018 period are collected from four meteorological stations of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD); Dhaka, Comilla, Srimongal and Sylhet, since these stations are close to the project areas.

142. Temperature: The average maximum temperature recorded during the period was 40.2 °C during April in Dhaka and average minimum was 3.4 °C during January in Sylhet in the period of last ten years from 2009 to 2018 as shown in Figure 7.

(Bangladesh Meteorological Department)

Figure 7: Average Maximum and Minimum Monthly Temperature in Project Area

143. Annual maximum average temperature ranges from 28.45 to 36.8°C in Dhaka, 28.72 to 36.09°C in Comilla, 21.0 to 29.33°C in Srimongal and 29.66 to 36.25°C in Sylhet. Highest temperatures observed in Dhaka in 2014, while in 2013, the minimum temperature was 3.4°C in Sylhet and 4°C in Srimongal.

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144. Rainfall: Monthly average maximum rainfall varies from 1,185 mm in Sylhet to 676 mm in Dhaka. Long periods of steady rainfall persisting over several days are common during the monsoon, but sometimes, the local high intensity rainfall of short duration is also recorded in the Project areas. About seventy-five percent of rainfall over Bangladesh occur from June to September.

145. The average annual rainfall in the project areas was recorded highest in Sylhet division with 4,147.6 mm and lowest in Dhaka with 1,972 mm during the period from 2009 to 2018. The maximum daily rainfall highest 7,108 mm was observed at Sylhet. The monthly average maximum and minimum rainfalls, and annually average, maximum and minimum rainfalls for ten years from 2009 to 2018 is presented in Figure 8.

Source: Bangladesh Meteorological Department

Figure 8: Monthly and Annually Average Rainfall in Project Area

146. Humidity: The highest average humidity is 85.3% in Sylhet and average lowest humidity is 57.0% in Dhaka meteorological stations as recorded in last ten years from 2009 to 2018 is given in Figure 9. Generally, the climatic condition of Sylhet division is more humid subtropical with predominantly hot and humid summer and a relatively cool winter.

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in % Humidity

Source: Bangladesh Meteorological Department

Figure 9: Average Humidity in Project Area

147. Wind: Data on monthly average prevailing wind speed in knots and direction in degrees are collected for the period of ten years from 2009 to 2018 which indicates the highest wind speed with 3.71 knots in Srimongal followed by 3.53 knots in Sylhet, 3.14 knots in Comilla and in 3.11 knots in Dhaka. The annual wind rose shows that the predominant wind flows from SSE to NNW. Highest wind speed ranges between 3.60-5.70 m/s with 12.6% calm and average wind speed over the study area is 2.83 m/s. The average prevailing wind speed and annual wind rose of the study areas are presented in Figure 10.

Average Prevailing Wind Speed during 2009-2018

4.00

3.50

3.00

2.50

2.00

1.50 Speed in in Speed knots 1.00

Wind 0.50

0.00 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Spt Oct Nov Dec

Dhaka Comilla Srimongal Sylhet

Source: Bangladesh Meteorological Department

Figure 10: Prevailing Wind Speed and Annual Wind Rose of the Project Area

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2. Air Quality:

148. The project road mostly passes through the rural areas, some growth centers, bazars (market), and urban small townships of the seven districts. The main pollutants around the roadside are mainly from the vehicle gaseous exhausts, with carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx), HC and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from both vehicular and fugitive emission sources disperses into the atmosphere, and their concentration reduces with the distance from the road edge. It is noted, generally that the highest concentration of CO, CO2 and HC are encountered in congested slow-moving traffic, whereas the highest emission of NOx is encountered whilst driving at high speed. In urban areas with congested road intersections, such as at Panchdona in Narshingdi, Bhairab- Brahmanbaria intersection, Sylhet- Moulvibazar etc. are likely having more air pollution than the rural areas.

149. The sampling locations for the testing the biophysical parameters of ambient air quality including noise and vibration levels were determined within the 200 m wide CoI strip considering different landuse of the project area during the reconnaissance visit in October 2019. A study of the land uses and existing industries along the alignment, 8 sampling locations were considered for air and noise monitoring are selected to represent these and assess environmental and social features and vulnerabilities. The justification for selecting the testing locations for the sampling are given in Annex 4. The testing of the ambient air quality parameters were carried out during December 2019 to January 2020 and the analyzed data were compared with the standard values under the Environment Conservation Rules (ECR), 1997, Schedules 2, and World Bank/IFC standards presented in Annex 2. The locations map with GPS Coordinate and name of locations for the ambient air quality measurements are shown in Figure 11 and Table 15.

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Figure 11. Sampling Locations Map of Ambient Air Quality Testing

Table 15: Name of Ambient Air Quality Testing Locations

Sampling Date Chainage Coordinates Name of Locations (Km) IDs

AQ 1 30-12-19 2+050 23°43ꞌ 21.72ꞌꞌ N Front of Jamia Kowmia Arabiya Madrasha at Katchpur, Narayanganj 90°30ꞌ 47.57ꞌꞌ E

AQ 2 30-12-19 28+750 23°53ꞌ 53.98ꞌꞌ N Front of Mojammel Haque’s House at Baghata, Narsingdi 90°40ꞌ 59.46ꞌꞌ E

AQ 3 01-01-20̋ 67+150 24°3ꞌ 18.39ꞌꞌ N Front of Local Market, Bhairab Bazar Bus Stand, Kishoreganj 90°59ꞌ 2.44ꞌꞌ E

AQ 4 03-01-20 99+050 24°4ꞌ 35.04ꞌꞌ N Front of Kazi Shafiqul Islam University College at Budhanti, Brahmanbaria 91°15ꞌ 46.57ꞌꞌ E

AQ 5 25-01-20 144+000 24°19ꞌ 14.09ꞌꞌ N Front of Daulathpur Ashrafia Madrasha, Bahubal, Habiganj 91°31ꞌ 46.90ꞌ E

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Sampling Date Chainage Coordinates Name of Locations (Km) IDs

AQ 6 23-01-20 166+450 24°30ꞌ 40.40ꞌꞌ N Front of Dinarpur High School at Gazanipur, Habiganj 91°35ꞌ 10.18ꞌꞌ E

AQ 7 22-01-20 185+200 24°37ꞌ 39.43ꞌꞌ N Front of Sunrise Diagnostics Center at Sherpur, Moulvibazar 91°40ꞌ38.70ꞌꞌ E

AQ 8 21-01-20 213+000 24°49ꞌ 44.92ꞌꞌ N Front of Bahapur Sylhet National Highway Jame Mosque, Lala Bazar,

91°48ꞌ 57.89ꞌꞌ E Sylhet

150. Parameters such as PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 were found exceeding GOB and IFC EHS standards for several sampling locations. Major contributors to air pollution along the road are brick kilns, vehicle emissions, trash burning, and reanimated dust mainly from unpaved or badly damaged roads. The test results of air quality samples and monitoring photographs are provided in Annex 5 and Annex 6 respectively. Air quality results at various locations are summarized and graphically presented in Figure 12 and Figure 13.

151. PM2.5: The ambient PM2.5 concentrations have been found to be higher than the World Bank/IFC Standard in 6 locations out of 8 sampling locations. Baharpur Jame Masjid at Lala Bazar (AQ8) faces the highest level of PM2.5 concentration followed closely by the Bhairab Bazar Local Market (AQ3) and (AQ4) Kazi Shafiqul Islam University College, Budhanti. None of these locations shows PM2.5, exceedance prescribed by Bangladesh Air Quality Standards under ECR, 1997.

152. PM10: A similar tendency is found in PM10 level with 6 locations exceeding the World Bank threshold limit of 50µg/m3 out of 8 sampling locations. The sampling location (AQ8) at Bahapur Jame Mosque, at Lala Bazar, Sylhet has the highest level of pollution followed by (AQ3) Bhairab Bazar Bus Stand, Kishoreganj and (AQ5) Daulathpur Ashrafia Madrasha at Bahubal in Habiganj. The PM10 concentration at (AQ2) Mojammel Haque's House, in Narsingdi and (AQ1) Jamia Kowmia Arabiya Madrasha at Katchpur in Narayanganj is found below the World Bank thresholds. With reference to the GoB standards they are all well below its standard values (150µg/m3).

153. SO2: All of the sites have SO2 concentration above World Bank/IFC Standards (20µg/m3) at (AQ8) Bahapur Jame Mosque, Lala Bazar, and Sylhet and at (AQ7) Sunrise Diagnostics Center, Sherpur, and Moulvibazar showing the higher concentration. The AQ1 samples at Katchpur and AQ2 in Narsingdi have the lowest SO2 level among all the sites, but they are still above World Bank Standards. With respect to the GoB Standard (365µg/m3), none of the sites have exceeded the stipulated standards.

154. NO2: The ambient concentration at AQ1 and AQ3 samples exceeded the prescribed concentration level of GoB Standard (100µg/m3).

155. CO: All sampling sites the Carbon-monoxide levels were well below the World Bank/IFC or GoB Standards; the result shows the highest CO concentration of 352.77 mg/m3 was in AQ7 sample.

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156. O3: All the sites had O3 (Ozone) concentration below the Standards given by World Bank or GoB. The sample AQ3 at Bhairab Bazar Bus Stand, Kishoreganj shows the highest amount of 59.8µg/m3.

157. TVOC: Bahapur Jame Mosque (AQ8) in Sylhet has recorded the highest level of TVOC concentration of 0.065mg/m3 followed by AQ1 at Katchpur follows with a concentration of 0.052mg/m3. Sample from Sunrise Diagnostics Center in Sherpur had the lowest level of TVOC of 0.033 mg/m3. There is no standard values set for the VOC under ECR, 1997 in Bangladesh.

158. NO: The highest NO concentration was observed at Jamia Kowmia Madrasha (AQ1) and lowest at Kazi Shafiqul Islam University College (AQ4). The prescribed standard of NO is still not has been established for the NO emission under ECR, 1997 in Bangladesh.

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Ambient Concentration of PM 10 Ambient Concentration of PM2.5 160 70 Sample ) 140 Sample 60 120 50 100 World World Bank/IFC 40 Bank/IFC 80 Standard (Hourly) Standard 30 60 GoB Air

Concentration (µg/m3) Concentration 20 40 GoB Air Quality Quality

Standards (24 (µg/m3 Concentration 10 Standards 20 hours) (24 Hours) 0 0 AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8 AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8 Sampling Locations Sampling Locations

Ambient Concentration of SO2 Ambient Concentration of NO2

) Sample 400 250 350 Sample 300 µg/m3 200 250 200 World 150 World Bank/IFC 150 Bank/IFC Standard 100 Standard 100 (Hourly) 50

Concentration (µg/m3) Concentration 50

Concentration ( Concentration 0 GoB Air AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8 GoB Air Quality Quality 0 Standards Standard AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8 (Annual) Sampling Locations (24 Hour) Sampling Locations

Figure 12. Ambient Air concentration of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 in Project Area

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)

Ambient Concentration of CO ) Ambient Concentration of Ozone (O3) 12000 Sample 180 Sample 10000 160 140 120 8000 100 World 80 6000 60 Bank/IFC 40 Standard 4000 20 World (µg/m3 Concentration (Hourly) Concentration (µg/m3 0 Bank/IFC GoB Air 2000 AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8 Standard Quality Standards 0 (Hourly) Sampling Locations (Annual) AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8

Sampling Locations Ambient Concentration of NO Ambient Concentration of TVOC 60 0.07 ) 50 0.06 0.05 40

0.04 30 0.03 20

0.02 (µg/m Concentration 10 0.01 Concentration (mg/m3 Concentration 0 0 AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8 AQ1 AQ2 AQ3 AQ4 AQ5 AQ6 AQ7 AQ8 Sampling Locations Sampling Locations

Figure 13: Ambient Air concentration of CO, O3, TVOC and NO in Project Area

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3. Noise Level and Vibration:

159. The main source of noise level and vibration in and around the road is due to motorized traffic movement in project area. Noise is generated from vehicle engine, exhaust system, through traffic honking, and high noise from heavy loaded vehicles moving in poor quality roads. The traffic noise level also depends on traffic flow, speed and mode of transport and road condition such as road gradient and road surface characteristics. However, the project area is mostly rural, but noise level may be high in some sections due to the poor condition of existing road and being too narrow for the movement of large traffic volumes. To determine the baseline condition of ambient noise atmosphere, noise level monitoring was carried out at same locations and same day when ambient air quality monitoring was conducted near sensitive receptors (sampling ID as NM1-NM8) as provided in Annex 4. The locations map of noise level monitoring is shown in Figure 14. The location wise ambient noise level for day and night hours are presented in Annex 7 and the photograph of noise monitoring are presented in Annex 8.

Figure 14. Sampling Location Map of Noise Level Measurement

160. Monitoring locations are located within residential/mixed, silent, and commercial land use categories. IFC EHS guidelines do not provide standards for mixed and silent zone categories whereas GOB standards provide limits for these. The most stringent standards from ECR and IFC standards are referred to establish the impact on ambient noise environment (e.g. ECR silent zone for education and health institutions/establishments). The limit applied depends on the most sensitive receptor present in the area. Noise Levels at all sites are found higher than Residential/Mixed Area category thresholds limit of Environment Conservation Rules (ECR), 1997. The noise levels at Mojammel Haque’s House (NM2) in Narsingdi and Sunrise Diagnostics Center, Sherpur in Moulvibazar (NM7) are higher than standard values for the residential, silent, as well as mixed area respectively. Daulathpur Ashrafia Madrasha, Bahubal, Habiganj (NM5) had tolerable noise levels as per Bangladesh residential zone standards, ECR. Dinarpur High School at Gazanipur (NM6) has noise level

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that exceeded the silent zone limit. The noise level at (NM4) University College at Budhanti, Brahmanbaria also exceeds the permissible limit for silent zone. The other sites had noise levels that were comparable to commercial area standard as per Bangladesh Pollution Control Rule 2006 as provided in Figure 15.

) d(BA Noise Level Noise

Bangladesh Standard Night Zone Day dB(A) EQC, 1997 dB(A) Silent Zone 50 40 Residential Zone 55 45 Mixed Area 60 50 Commercial Area 70 60 Industrial Area 75 70 World Bank/IFC Standard Residential; Institutional; 55 45 Educational Industrial; Commercial 70 70 Source: GoB Noise Standard ECR, 1997, Noise Pollution Control Rules 2006

Figure 15: Noise Level alongside the project road

161. A total of 44 of noise sensitive receptors are identified within 60m on either side of the road edge in the entire stretch of project. Most of these are residential buildings, educational institutions, places of prayers and hospitals or health care centres and are presented in Table 16. The list of CPRs structures located at right and left sides within the corridor of Impact with distance from the edge and realignment sections of 13 contract packages are presented in Annex 9.

Table 16: Sensitive Receptors Located Alongside the Project Road

Code. Lat/ Long Location Distance from Boundary Type of road edge (m) Height Receptors (m) 23°42'28.76"N In front of 38.7 1.9 Commercial N-1 90°31'8.81"E Mega Complex, Space Kanchpur, Narayanganj

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Code. Lat/ Long Location Distance from Boundary Type of road edge (m) Height Receptors (m) 23°43'21.78"N Jamia Kowmia Arabiya 53.41 2.3 Residential 90°30'47.69"E Madrashah, Kanchpur, and N-2 Narayanganj Educational Building 23°45'36.31"N US Bangla Medical 23.2 1.8 Health Care N-3 90°32'53.57"E College, Narayanganj Centre 23°47'35.30"N In Front of Maya Villa, 38.2 N/A Residential N-4 90°34'40.84"E Narayanganj 23°48'47.75"N In front of Darus Salam 35.1 N/A Educational N-5 90°35'37.60"E Cadet Madrashah, Banti, Institute Narsinghdhi N-6 23°49'38.19"N In front of Zaber House, 48.8 N/A Residential 90°36'22.17"E Pachrukhi, Narsinghdhi Building N-7 23°50'26.92"N Kandail Bus Stand, 39.4 N/A Commercial 90°37'14.61"E Narshinghdhi Space N-8 23°51'28.83"N Satgram Primary School, 43.5 N/A Educational 90°38'7.35"E Narsinghdhi Institute N-9 23°52'34.05"N In front of Nilufer's House, 11.4 N/A Residential 90°39'50.23"E Khalpaar, Narsinghdhi Building N-10 23°52'41.83"N In front of Kashem's 28.3 N/A Residential 90°40'1.03"E House, Dream Holiday Building Park, Narsinghdhi N-11 23°53'53.73"N Mojammel Haque's 56.9 2.3 Residential 90°40'59.18"E House, Baghata, Building Narsinghdhi N-12 23°55'31.28"N Abdul Kadir Molla City 44.2 2.2 Educational 90°41'59.88"E College, Narsinghdhi Institute N-13 23°58'31.33"N In Front of Suruj Mia's 44 N/A Residential 90°43'48.62"E House, Munsheper Char, Building Shivpur N-14 24°1'5.07"N In front of Anika Bricks, 25 N/A Industrial 90°48'21.17"E Chainno, Shivpur N-15 24°2'54.01"N Sayedpur Mohammadia 56.9 N/A Educational 90°51'47.30"E Madrashah, Sayedpur, Institute Kishoreganj N-16 24° 3'17.47"N Bhairab Bazar Bus Stand, 36.1 N/A Commercial 90°59'2.04"E Bhairab, Kishorganj Place N-17 24°3'3.55"N Makhan Chattar, Bishwa 28.1 N/A Commercial 91° 6'53.81"E Road, Brahmanbaria Place N-18 24°3'26.22"N In front of Nur-e-Madina 45.1 N/A Educational 91° 7'1.81"E Madrashsh, Kuttapara, Institute Sarail, Brahmanbaria N-19 24°3'3.67"N In front of Chawdhuri 95.4 N/A Residential 91°10'7.40"E Manjil, Shahbazpur 1st Building Gate, Sarail, Brahmanbaria

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Code. Lat/ Long Location Distance from Boundary Type of road edge (m) Height Receptors (m) N-20 24°2'46.35"N In front of Inu Mia's 37.5 N/A Residential 91°13'40.37"E House, Ibrahimpur, Building Brahmanbaria N-21 24°3'47.75"N In front of Truck Driver 26.3 N/A Commercial 91°14'59.37"E Hotel and Restaurant, Place Budhanti, Brahmanbaria N-22 24°4'34.85"N In front of Kazi Shafiqul 28.8 2.1 Educational 91°15'47.37"E Islam University College, Institute Budhanti, Brahmanbaria N-23 24°6'6.78"N In front of Habiganj 45.2 N/A Office 91°17'44.58"E Development Building Organization Building, Habiganj N-24 24°8'36.08"N In Front of Bejora Bus 37 N/A Commercial 91°19'47.08"E Stand, Madhabpur, Place Habiganj N-25 24°12'49.44"N Latifia Jame Mosque, 44.5 N/A Place for 91°21'28.29"E Sahapur Natun bazar, Prayer Habiganj N-26 24°15'59.43"N In front of Furut Mia's 40.5 N/A Residential 91°22'59.81"E House, Olipur, Saistaganj Building N-27 24°16'53.21"N In front of Noor's House, 35.3 N/A Residential 91°24'46.79"E Saistaganj, Habiganj Building N-28 24°16'0.02"N In front of Saistaganj 53.8 N/A Place for 91°28'37.09"E Jame Mosque, Hbiganj Prayer N-29 24°17'37.68"N In front of Sundar Ali's 22.8 N/A Residential 91°30'36.39"E House, Titarkona, Building Bahubal N-30 24°19'13.73"N Daulatpur Asrafia 20.6 2.1 Educational 91°31'46.75"E Madrshah, Bahubal, Institute Habiganj N-31 24°19'48.59"N In front of BMA Bricks, 54.3 N/A Industrial 91°31'58.36"E Baganbari, Bahubal N-32 24°20'48.22"N In front of Hazi Younus 53.1 N/A Residential 91°32'10.93"E Ali's Villa, Islamabad, Building Bahubal N-33 24°21'41.57"N In front of Darul Ulum 44.1 N/A Educational 91°32'30.20"E Chalitatala Madrashah, Institute Bahubal N-34 24°24'15.17"N Putijuri Local Market, 49.7 N/A Rural 91°33'51.80"E Habiganj Market N-35 24°28'1.52"N In front of Student Hostel, 182 N/A Residential 91°34'23.33"E Ragib-Rabeya High and School, Nabiganj, Educational Habiganj place N-36 24°30'40.28"N Dinarpur High School, 43.3 N/A Educational 91°35'10.36"E Gaznipur, Habiganj Institute

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Code. Lat/ Long Location Distance from Boundary Type of road edge (m) Height Receptors (m) N-37 24°35'28.74"N In Front of Yakubia 60.1 N/A Educational 91°36'10.55"E Hafizia Madrashah, Institute Auskandi, Habiganj N-38 24°37'39.15"N Sunrise Diagnostics 36.1 N/A Health Care 91°40'38.15"E Center, Sherpur, Centre Maulvibazar N-39 24°38'42.72"N In front of Abdur Rashid's 54.7 N/A Residential 91°41'43.84"E House, Osmaninagar, Building Sylhet N-40 24°41'42.77"N In front of Elias Mia's 59.4 N/A Residential 91°43'39.51"E House, Goalabazar, Building Osmaninagar N-41 24°42'55.43"N In front of Verd Eye 32.1 N/A Eye 91°44'42.22"E Hospital, Osmaninagar Hospital Bazar, Sylhet N-42 24°45'9.70"N In front of Abdus Shobhan 44.5 N/A Educational 91°46'56.24"E Govt. Primary School, Institute Dayamir, Sylhet N-43 24°47'54.26"N In front of Nazir Bazar 60.8 N/A Place for 91°47'21.43"E Jame Mosque, Nazir Prayer Bazar, South Surma, Sylhet N-44 24°49'44.52"N In front of Bahapur Jame 60.3 N/A Place for 91°48'56.35"E Mosque, Lalabazar, Prayer Sylhet

162. Vibration: The vibration measurement are conducted at same locations where air quality and noise levels are monitored as shown in Figure 16. The average vibration levels ranged from 0.29 mm/s to 0.59 mm/s and the highest recorded was 0.59 mm/s at (VM3, commercial zone) Bhairab Bazar Bus Stand, Kishoreganj followed by 0.52mm/s at (VM6, mixed zone) Dinarpur High School, Gazanipur, and Habiganj. The vibration level at (VM4, silent zone) front of Kazi Shafiqul Islam University College at Budhanti, Brahmanbaria and at (VM7, mixed zone) front of Sunrise Diagnostics Center at Sherpur, Moulvibazar had same vibration values 0.48 mm/s. The lowest values 0.29 mm/s Figure 16: Location Map of Vibration Measurement was found at Katchpur (VM1,

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mixed/ industrial zone) as shown in Figure 17. The result shows that the measured vibration levels are lower than the German vibration Standard DIN 4150. The details of testing locations results and photos of the testing are shown Annex 10 and Annex 11 respectively.

Average Vibration Level (mm/sec)

0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2

Vibration Level (mm/s) 0.1 0 VM 1 VM 2 VM 3 VM 4 VM 5 VM 6 VM 7 VM 8 Average Vibration Level 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.4 (mm/sec)

German Vibration Standard from DIN Peak Particles Velocity 4150 (mm/s) Structure Type 4-8 8-30 30-100 Hz Hz Hz Commercial 20 20-40 40-50 Residential 5 5-15 15-20 Very Sensitive 3 3-8 8-10

Figure 17. Vibration Level alongside the Project Road

164. Sea Level Rise: The project areas are not subject to sea level rise issues, since the country’s coastal areas are located far away from the project road corridor.

4. Topography and Drainage:

165. Topography: Bangladesh is located on the largest delta plain in the world at the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna river systems. The headwaters of these rivers originate in the Himalayan mountain range in People’s Republic of China and north- eastern hills of India. Half of the country is flat to gently undulating delta flood plain, with its network of river systems and its elevations less than 10m above sea level.

166. The topography of the project area is mostly natural flat floodplain of Bangladesh, which is the largest delta in the world; with little land more than 12 meters above sea level. The road mainly passes through flat terrain. The topographical features of the seven districts are as follows;  : The district is flat with elevation of 3 meter above Mean Sea Level (msl). The lands are generally classified as medium-low-high land, which is about 29% of 76% cultivated lands of total district.  : The Narsingdi district is flat. Elevations generally range between 3-5 meters above msl. The lands are generally classified as medium- high land, which about 29% of total 80% district’s cultivated lands.  Brahmanbaria District: The topography of the Brahmanbaria district is flat with elevations generally ranges between 2-3 metres above msl. The lands are generally classified as 32% medium-low-lands out of 86% district’s

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cultivated lands. • Kishoreganj District: The topography of the Kishoreganj district is flat. Elevations ranges 6-7 meter above msl. About highest 33%, cultivated lands are generally classified as lowland out of 83% district’s cultivated lands. • Habiganj District: The topography of the Habiganj district is flat with a topographic relief at the border of India. Elevations generally range between 6 meter above msl along the western boundary of the district and 75 meter above msl in the eastern portion of the district. About 77% lands are agreeable, of which 24% highest lands are lowlands. • : The topography of Moulvibazar is flat with a topographic relief. Elevations generally range between 6 meter above msl along the western boundary of the district and 66 meter above msl in the eastern portion at the border of Assam in India. In Moulvibazar, about 54% are lands are cultivated and amongst them, highest 27% lands types are medium-high-lands. • Sylhet District: The topography of the Sylhet district is flat with a little topographic relief. Elevations generally range between 6 meter above msl along the western boundary of the district and 15 meter above msl in the eastern portion of the district. 166. The project road passes mostly through the flat floodplain of Bangladesh with mostly elevation hovering around 12m above mean sea level (msl). The proposed improved realignment with viaduct under DS-7 will pass over a small Hill section (Raghunandan Hill) at Olipur in Habiganj district. The contour map is presented in Figure 18.

167. Drainage: Project impacted seven districts are drained by a number of rivers, Branch Rivers, streams and ditches, as well and haors. The important rivers Arial Kha River, , Titas River, Old Meghna River, Shutang River, Khowai River, Kushiyara River, etc. Vast area in Sylhet is covered by and haors wetlands. The estimated haor basin in Sylhet division spread over between 4,450 km2 and 25,000 km2 out of country’s total area of haors type wetland ecosystem 80,000 km2. The most prominent haors in greater Sylhet basin are , Saneer Haor, Dekar Haor, Maker Haor, Chayer Haor, , Baikka Haor and Hail Haor. The Hail hour is located within 10 buffer zone of the project road.

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Figure 18. Contour Map of Olipur Realignment under DS-7

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5. Geology and Soil Characteristic:

168. Geology: Geologically Bangladesh sediments belong to the Recent (Floodplains), Plio-Plaistocene (Terraces) and Mio-Pliocene (Hills) periods. Most of Bangladesh comprises of fertile floodplain, the nutrient-rich alluvial soils annually rejuvenated by the floodwaters of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The alluvial silt, alluvial silt and clay and deltaic silt are major geology of the project area. The geological map of the Project area is presented in Figure 19. The project area under the Narayanganj, Narshingdi, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria districts area mainly falls in alluvium in floodplain having flat terrain. Sylhet region is geologically known as the Surma Basin and covers the north-eastern parts of the fore deep (flat terrain) and Folded-Belt (hilly terrain) division of the Bengal Basin, which happens to be one of the most prominent tectonically-active sedimentary basins of the world. Thickness of the sedimentary pile with the fore deep area is in excess of 15 Figure 19: Geological Map of the Project Area kilometers; the Folded Belt representing the uplifted parts of this sedimentary pile. This huge sedimentary body is dominantly composed of sand and mud with subordinated limestone which started depositing in a deep-basement basin about 50 million years ago with the gradual rise of the Himalayas due to collision between Indian and Burmese Plates and subsequent erosion.

169. Soil Characteristic: General soil characteristic of Bangladesh comprises the floodplain soils, hill soils and terrace soil. The floodplain soil includes calcareous and non- calcareous alluvium, grey and dark, acid basin clays etc., and terrace soils includes shallow red brown, deep brown, molted etc. The general soil textures of the project area are shown in Figure 20. Mixed clay and clay loam, mixed slit loam, silty loam and predominantly salt clay, etc. are main phenomena within the project area.

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Figure 20. Soil Texture Map of the Project Area 6. General Hydrology and Flooding:

170. Hydrology: Bangladesh is a riverine and flood prone country and vulnerable to flooding every year during the monsoon season. Narayanganj district mostly lies on the meander floodplain and usually the area is flooded by rainwater. The Old Brahmaputra, Meghan, Shitalakhya and Dhaleswari rivers located in the vicinity and areas are flooded by river water and receive fresh silt deposits. In Narsingdi, the main rivers are Meghna, Arial Khan, Haridhoa, Kalagachhia and Paharia. The main rivers of the Brahmanbaria district are the Meghna and Titas rivers. The main river in Kishoreganj is Narsunda. In Habiganj, the rivers are Lohalia, Payra, Lebukhali, Tentulia. In Moulvibazar, the main rivers are the Manu, Dholoi and the Juri, which flow from India. In Sylhet district, the main rivers are Surma and Kushiyara. A number of rivers, which intersect with the road, are Arial khan, Old Brahmaputra, Meghna, Titas, Khowai and Kushiyara. Beside these rivers, there are several small rivers and canals crosses the project road. Figure 21 presents the major river crosses the project road alignment.

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Figure 21: Major Rivers Map of the Project Area Arial Kha branch River: This is a branch of one of the distributaries of old Brahmaputra River, which originates from Arial Khan River. This river carries only seasonal flow, as the river is gradually dried up and formed two channels due to siltation. However, during wet season, the river flows full but has no scouring problem in any of the riverbanks. The Kundapara Bridge is located over this branch river 48 km from Dhaka. Arial Khan River: This is also one of the distributaries of old Brahmaputra River, which originates from river Jamuna near Bahadurabad. The Arial khan Bridge is located over Arial River at about 58 km from Dhaka. The river is gradually drying up and formed in two channels due to situation. However, during wet season, the river flows full but has no scouring problem in any of the riverbanks. Old Brahmaputra: This River originates from Jamuna River near Bahadurabad and travels a long way through greater Mymensingh and falls into Meghan River in the downstream of Bhairab Bridge. This Bridge is located at about 68 km from Dhaka. The river in fact, was the main river course of the mighty Jamuna before mid of the 18th century until a catastrophic earthquake in the region, changed the river course to its present path (from Bahadurabad to Chandpur via Goalanda) and is named as Jamuna. The river is gradually drying up.

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Titas River: The River originates from upper Meghna and meets with river Gomti near Brahmanbaria. The Shahbazpur Bridge is located over the Titas River at about 93 km from Dhaka. The river carries all season flow but the discharge in the dry period is only 5% of the flood season flow. Both riverbanks are stable and show no sign of erosion in either of the bank at the Bridge location. Sutang River: The Sutang River is Small River. The Sutang Bridge is located over at Lakhai Upazila, in the district Habiganj. The riverbanks are fairly stable around the bridge location. The river also carries all season flow but the dry season flow is insignificant comparing to the flood season flow. The change of river morphology and the river’s bank line is quite insignificant during last two years. Khowai River: The River also carries all season flow but the dry season flow is insignificant compared withthe flood season flow. The Shayestaganj Bridge is located over River Khowai at about 141 km from Dhaka (Katchpur Bridge) and riverbanks found stable. Korangi River: This River is quite deep and is being used as an inland water transport route in the region. During flood, the river flows above its bank level and inundates a vast area. The Chalta bazar Bridge is located over the river Korangi at chainage 148+100m, situated in the Habiganj district and riverbanks are stable. Bijnar River: It is a major river and carries all season flow along with flash flood from the upland hilly area. The river is quite deep and is being used as an inland water transport rout in the region. Bijnar River at chainage 171+650m, situated in Habiganj district. Kushiyara River: The River originates from high hilly region of Assam, in India. This is a major river and carries all season flow along with flash flood from the upland hilly area. The river is quite deep and is being used as an inland water transport route in the region. During flood, the river flows above its bank level and inundates a vast area. The Sherpur Bridge is located over the Kushiyara River at about 190 km from Dhaka. Kushiyara River (Dead)/ Sadikhali River: This dead river is not connected to any major river and carries only storm water flow during wet season. The river remains as a huge water body in monsoon. The river is stable and no sign of scouring in the riverbanks are observed. The bridge will be constructed over the Sadikhal River at about 192km from Dhaka.

171. Flooding Pattern: Every year during the rainy season, when there is excessive rainfall in India, and the surplus water flows through the above-mentioned rivers and causes flooding in the low-lying areas within project areas due to over-bank spillage of the rivers, such as Old Brahmaputra, Meghna, Surma Titas and Kushiyara etc. Furthermore, there are many water bodies such as small branch rivers, khal (canal), haors and beel (lake like depressions relating water permanently) located within the seven districts.

172. Normal monsoon flood generates from high upland flow beyond the national boundary but when it is associated with higher local rainfall, the flood becomes devastating, prolonged and inundates a vast area of the country as well as the project area. It is noted that some sections of the project road were submerged during the devastating flood in 2004.

173. The project road alignment passes through the flood sensitive areas, Narshingdi as a low flood area and Habiganj as severe flash flood area as shown in Figure 22.

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Figure 22: Flood Map of the Project Area 174. The existing project road is not overtopped during rainy season according to the information from local people, sometimes water logging happens due to occurrence of flash flood during the monsoon season, but the water disperses quickly within 3-4 hours. The proposed improved realignment sections are low-lying and flooded in every monsoon as shown in Table 17.

Table 17. Flood prone Areas within the Project Alignment

Flood Prone / Overtopped Sections

Contract Location Package (Chainage) Km Reason of Flooding / Location Name No. Over Toping From To

DS-02 21+000 29+000 Madhabdi Panchdona Rainy Season

Sherpur Bridge DS-10 184+700 186+300 Rainy Season approach

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Flood Prone / Overtopped Sections

Contract Location Package (Chainage) Km Reason of Flooding / Location Name No. Over Toping From To

DS-12 212+500 222+600 Lalabazar- PHRC Rainy Season

175. There are many water level recording Hydrological Gauging Stations (SW) of BWDB located close to the project road and the annual minimum and maximum water levels was recorded between 10.12m-12.30m in Hydrological Gauge station (SW159) in Habiganj followed by Sylhet (SW267) between 10.09-11.83 m during the period of 2007-2017 as shown in Table 18.

Table 18: Annual Maximum and Minimum Water Levels in the Project Area

Narsingdi Bhairab Sutang Rly. Habiganj Sherpur Sylhet (SW274) Bazar RHD (SW159) (SW175.5) (SW267) Years (SW273) (SW280) Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min 2007 6.19 1.15 6.94 0.92 7.45 3.12 12.00 5.97 9.31 2.85 11.83 1.90 2008 5.85 0.80 6.51 1.04 6.86 3.05 10.12 6.02 8.98 3.48 11.50 2.19

2009 5.33 0.72 6.02 1.00 6.38 3.25 10.31 5.94 8.90 2.72 11.23 2.04

2010 5.19 0.62 5.94 0.97 6.77 2.95 11.60 6.00 9.54 2.60 11.54 2.13

2011 5.30 0.76 6.08 1.12 6.27 3.29 11.50 6.16 9.12 3.16 10.09 2.17

2012 5.47 0.83 5.96 1.11 7.49 3.18 11.70 5.78 9.28 2.82 11.97 2.15

2013 5.23 0.9 5.51 0.97 6.74 3.26 11.50 5.80 8.91 2.38 10.58 2.21 2014 5.36 0.68 6.04 0.99 6.23 3.22 10.80 5.86 9.18 2.67 11.35 2.05

2015 5.5 0.76 6.14 1.00 6.71 3.2 10.20 5.71 8.85 2.08 11.76 2.17

2016 5.36 0.81 6.00 1.00 6.62 3.23 11.20 5.62 9.29 2.65 11.27 2.19

2017 5.32 0.96 6.04 1.18 7.25 3.21 12.30 5.52 9.45 2.59 11.7 2.3

2018 3.82 0.32 4.02 0.37 7.07 3.29 11.50 4.05 9.06 2.20 10.61 1.47

Max. 7.02 7.78 8.86 12.30 9.68 12.44 Source: Hydrological Report, Dhaka-Sylhet Project

176. Other Surface Water Bodies: Surface water is abundant in the wet season in project areas. In addition to rivers stated above, there are 297 ponds, 326 ditches, 131 borrow pit and 64 canals, which are located within the proposed RoW as provided in Table 19. Most of these water bodies are perennial water bodies. Some of these waterbodies, however, are found dried-up or contain small amount of water during the dry season and but receives water in rainy season. People use the water from the canals/ditches and ponds for the purpose of washing, bathing and fishing. In the wet season, substantial amount of the land in the area is

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inundated due to flood. In the dry season, the local canals and channels provide water for irrigation for boro cultivation and for growing winter crops and industrial processing purposes.

Table 19. Affected Waterbodies within the Proposed RoW

Package Right Side (Towards Sylhet) Left Side (Towards Dhaka) Pond Ditch Borrow pit5 Canal Pond Ditch Borrow pit Canal DS-1 37 27 33 1 34 11 6 1 DS-2 31 52 13 2 28 34 1 0 DS-3 17 21 9 2 14 4 0 1 DS-4 9 12 3 2 3 4 1 0 DS-5 11 16 12 4 19 20 7 5 DS-6 22 13 16 3 21 11 26 2 DS-7 1 3 2 2 1 0 1 2 DS-8 0 8 1 2 0 12 0 2 DS-9 2 0 0 2 4 0 0 3 DS-10 6 11 0 4 4 7 0 2 DS-11 6 7 0 3 8 6 0 3 DS-12 A 3 1 0 2 5 1 0 2 DS-12 B 7 16 0 6 4 29 0 6 Total 152 187 89 35 145 139 42 29

177. The list of water bodies located on either side of the existing road edges with distance and within realignments areas are presented in Table 19. Out of four proposed realignments, three realignments; Madhabdi-Panchdona (DS-2), Sherpur (DS-10) and Lalabazar-PHRC (DS-12) passes through the floodplain and low-lying areas with 22 ponds, 65 ditches, 4 borrow pits and 10 canals. On the other hand, the Olipur realignment (DS-7) section passes only over 3 ditches as shown in Table 20.

Table 20: Affected Waterbodies within RoW of the Proposed Realignments

Right Hand Side from Centreline Left Hand Side from Centreline Packa Borrow Ca Borrow ge Chainage Pond Ditch Pond Ditch Canal pit nal pit 21+000 - 22+000 2 4 4 0 8 10 0 – 22+000 - 23+000 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 – 23+000 - 24+000 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 – 24+000 - 25+000 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 – DS-02 25+000 - 26+000 0 8 0 0 0 7 0 – 26+000 - 27+000 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 – 27+000 - 28+000 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 – 28+000 - 29+000 7 4 0 0 4 2 0 – Total 9 35 4 1 12 29 0 0 DS-07 124+400 - 126+400 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 Borrow pits referred here are depressions/pits which remain filled with water during monsoon and are developed due to extraction of earth material within existing RoW for development/raising of embankment of the existing road in the past.

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Right Hand Side from Centreline Left Hand Side from Centreline Packa Borrow Ca Borrow ge Chainage Pond Ditch Pond Ditch Canal pit nal pit 126+400 -128+400 0 0 – 0 0 0 0 – Total 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 183+900 -185+900 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 DS-10 185+900 -186+700 0 5 0 0 0 3 0 0 Total 0 6 0 0 0 5 0 0 212+800 –214+800 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 214+800 –216+800 3 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 216+800 – 18+800 4 10 0 2 4 9 0 2 DS-12 218+800 –220+800 0 3 0 3 0 11 0 4 220+800 –222+600 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 Total 7 16 0 6 4 29 0 6

7. Surface Water Quality:

178. To study the baseline water quality of the project area, water samples are collected from 50m upstream (u/s) and 50m downstream (d/s) locations from six major rivers where bridges work are proposed as shown in Figure 23 and Table 21, and the appropriate justification for selecting such location are also provided in Annex 12. The test results of water quality analysis and photograph of the sampling locations are presented in Annex 13 and Annex 14 respectively.

179. The test results shows that the BOD levels in all samples are lower than ECR, 1997 standard limits below 2 mg/l, and is only fit for drinking water quality after suitable treatment as bacteria free, use for recreational purpose, use for fish cultivation and irrigation and use of water for different processing purposes in industries. The test results shows that the concentration of PO4 levels were found high enough with 3.7mg/l at downstream location of Khowai River (SW- 5, D/S) and 2.7mg/l at downstream and upstream of Kushiyara River (SW-6) as shown in Figure 24. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is also found higher at Khowai River with 11mg/l

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and 10mg/l upstream and downstream respectively (SW-6, U/S and D/S). The nitrogenous concentration of Old Brahmaputra river (SW-2 U/S) water in upstream was found 0.2mg/l as NO3. The concentration of oil and grease in all samples were below the 2 mg/l.

Figure 23. Surface Water Sampling Locations Map Table 21: Names of Surface water Sampling Locations and Sampling ID

Sampling ID Sampling Location Chainage(km) Coordinates Sample ID 01.01.20 Arial Kha River Near Shibpur 54+600 91°51'47.98"E, SW-1 (50m U/S Bazar Bus Stop, Narsingdi 24°2'49.70"N SW-1 (50m D/S) 01.01.20 Old Brahmaputra River, 64+800 90°57'52.98"E, SW-2 (50m U/S) Benibazar, Narsingdi 24°3'25.04"N SW-2 (50m D/S) 02.01.20 Meghna River Bhairab 68+500 90°59'37.92"E, SW-3 (50m U/S) Bazar, Kishoreganj 24°2'58.36"N SW-3 (50m D/S) 02.01.20 Titas River Near 88+400 91°10'35.38"E, SW-4 (50m U/S) Shahbazpur Town, 24°2'45.27"N SW-4 (50m D/S) Brahmanbaria 24.01.20 Khowai River near 136+500 21"1674.54 'N, SW-5 (50m U/S) Shayestaganj, Habiganj 91'28'45.7l "E SW-5 (50m D/S) 24.01.20 Kushiyara River 185+900 24'16'15.53"N, SW-6 (50m U/S) 91'28'41.30"E SW-6 (50m D/S)

Concentration of Different Parameters of Surface water

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 SW-1 SW-1 SW-2 SW-2 SW-3 SW-3 SW-4 SW-4 SW-5 SW-5 SW-6 SW-6 (U/S) (D/S) (U/S) (D/S) (U/S) (D/S) (U/S) (D/S) (U/S) (D/S) (U/S) (D/S) Arial Kha Old Meghna Titas Khowai Kushiara Brahmaputra Concentraion in mg/l

TOC Total PO4 NO3 TSS BOD COD DO Oil and Grease

Figure 24. Results of Surface Water from Six Rivers

180. Riverbed Sediment Quality: The riverbed sediment quality of the project area was assessed by sample testing collected from six riverbeds crossings of Arial Kha, Old Brahmaputra, Meghna, Titas, Khowai and Kushiyara rivers crossed by the project road. The location map of sediment sample collected is shown in Figure 25 and the results in Annex 15 and photograph of sampling in Annex 16.

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Figure 25. Sampling Location of Sediment Collection from Six Rivers Crossings

181. As there are no stipulated standards for riverbed sediment quality in Bangladesh, the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines, 2009 for sediment quality in freshwater and USA, EPA ECO Update are used as references. Based on the analysis of the sediment samples, the following parameters in all sediment samples was found within the prescribed standard values. The results can be summarized as follows.

182. pH: The pH of the sediments of Arial Kha River and Meghna River are recoded as neutral. The pH value of sediments of Titas, Khowai and Kushiyara Rivers are found strongly acidic, while that of Old Brahmaputra River sediment was moderately acidic, this is may be due to wastewater discharging into the river from industries located nearby.

183. Potassium, Total Nitrogen and Phosphorus: Highest percentage of K, Total Nitrogen and P are observed as 0.052%, 0.73% and 0.061 in Khowai riverbed sediment. Except P, the concentration of K and Total-N are lowest in Arial kha river sediment.

184. Iron: The highest concentration of Fe was 85.5 ppm in Arial kha riverbed sample and the lowest 63.6 ppm was in Khowai riverbed materials.

185. Cupper, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead and Zinc: The heavy metals presence indicates that the lowest concentration of Cu (3.5 ppm) and Zn (0.36ppm) are found in Arial Khan riverbed samples whereas the highest concentration of Cu was found in Kushiyara river sediment samples. The highest concentration of Zn of 0.67 ppm was found in Kowhai river ssample and the lowest of 0.36 ppm was found in Arial kha. Highest concentration of lead 15.06 ppm was in Meghna River and the lowest was 0.52 in Kowhai river sediment. The ranges of Cr concentration are found between 2.65 ppm to 29.91 ppm with highest concentration values recorded in Khowai and the lowest in Kushiyara riverbed sample. The concentration of Cd was found lowest of 0.01 ppm in Kushiyara and the highest recoded was 0.17 in Titas river sample. There was no correlation or any trend between concentrations of the heavy metals observed in the six different samples. It is noted, although some testing values of the heavy

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metal’s concentrations were high, but all falls within the permissible standard limits of Canadian Environmental Guidelines-PEL.

8. Groundwater:

186. Bangladesh is located over a subsiding basin of tectonic origin overlain with a great thickness of sedimentary strata. The recent delta and alluvial plains of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and the Meghna Rivers constitute the upper formation. The near surface Quaternary alluvium contains good aquifer characteristics (transmission and storage coefficients). In the project area, the groundwater (GW) storage reservoir has three divisions: upper clay and silt layer, a middle composite aquifer (fine to very fine sand) and a main aquifer consisting of medium to coarse sand. Drinking water is generally taken from deep tube wells between depths of 200 meters to around 400 meters (DPHE, 2011). The Ground water level is at or very close to the surface during the monsoon; whereas, it is at maximum depth during the months of April and May (, 2010).

187. To establish the baseline condition of the groundwater quality within the project area six groundwater sample were collected from deep tube wells and shallow tubwell. The sampling location names and map are shown in Table 22 and Figure 26. The test results and photographs of the sampling location are presented in Annex 17 and Annex 18.

188. Test results of six samples indicates that, Iron (Fe) concentration found to exceed Bangladesh Standard Limit of 1 mg/l in the Shallow Tubewell (GW-4) at Shayestaganj Jame Mosque (1.9mg/l) and Deep Tubwell (DTW) at (GW-5) Dinarpur High School (2.1mg/l). Arsenic (As) and Chromium (Cr) concentrations are found within limits of standard values in all analyzed samples as shown in Figure 27. Electric Conductivity (EC) values are found higher at (WG-2) Benibazar, Kishoreganj and Shallow Tubewell at GW-3 Choudhury Manjil, Brahmanbaria with values of 980µS/cm and 1011µS/cm respectively. The concentration of TDS in samples were within the permissible limit of 1000mg/l (EQS, 1997) in Bangladesh.

Table 22: Name of the Sampling Locations of Groundwater

Sample Sampling Sampling Location Chainage (km) Sampling Date ID Date GW-1 24.01.202 Deep Tubewell at Jami Kowmia 2+100 90°30'47.24"E, 0 Arabiya Madrasha 23°43 21.13"N GW-2 02.01.202 DPHE Tubewell at Benibazar, 65+200 90°57'55.90"E, 0 Kishoreganj 24°3'24.19"N GW-3 02.01.202 Shallow Tubewell at Choudhury 87+100 91°10'6.91"E, 0 Manjil, Shahbazpur 1st Gate, 24°3'4.00"N Brahmanbaria GW-4 24.01.202 Shallow Tubewell at Shayestaganj 136+000 91°28'36.99E, 0 Jame Mosque 24°15'59.75"N GW-5 24.01.202 Deep Tubewell at Dianrpur High 166+400 91°35'9.72 E 0 School 24°30'39.93"N GW-6 24.01.202 Shallow Tubewell at Baharpur 213+000 24°49ꞌ 44.92ꞌꞌ N 0 Jame Mosque 91°48ꞌ57.89ꞌꞌ E

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Figure 26. Location Map of Groundwater Sampling

189. All samples from tubwells are found free from bacteriological contamination. The detailed result of groundwater samples testing is presented in Annex 17.

Ground Water Samples 2.5

2

1.5

1 As (mg/l) Fe (mg/l) 0.5 Cr (mg/l) Concentration mg/l Concentration 0

Figure 27: Concentration of As, Fe and Cr in Groundwater Samples

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9. Seismicity:

190. Bengal Basin is situated in a seismically active zone surrounded by the Himalayan Arc and the Shillong Plateau in the north, the Mayanmarian Arc and Aracan Yoma Anticlinorium in the east and the Naga- Disang Thrust zone in northeast. The Himalayan and Mayanmarian mountains are seismically active because of occurrence between the Indian and Eurasian Plates. Bangladesh has been jolted during past 130 years due to several earthquakes over 7.0 The Bangladesh National Building Code (1996) sub-divided Bangladesh into three seismic zones based on tremor intensities, vulnerability to earthquakes and possible severity of damage, possible severity of damage. The districts in the project area are within central and northeast region Bangladesh and falls partly into Seismic Zone-2 (0.15- 0.25 Richter), which is medium risk hazards zone and mostly falls in Seismic Zone-3 (over 0.25 Richter) the highest risk hazard Figure 28: Seismic Zone of the Project Area zone as shown in Figure 28.

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A. Ecological Environment

191. Bangladesh possesses a high biodiversity of flora and fauna including flowering plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes etc. and it is a zone of rich biological heritage. Bangladesh has an area of 2.46 million ha of forests distributed all over the country’s spread over an area of 143,998 sq. km. The natural forests of Bangladesh were considered as one of the richest and biologically diverse forest resources due to its unique geo-physical location and classified into Bio-ecological Zone.

1. Bio-ecological Zone of Bangladesh:

192. IUCN has classified Bangladesh into 25 Bio-ecological Zones in the context of physiographic and biological diversity. The project area falls under the bio-ecological zone of Brahmaputra –Jamuna floodplain (4c), Surma-Kushiyara floodplain (4d), Meghna floodplain (4e) and Haor basin (5a) as shown on the bio-ecological zone map presented in Figure 29. The ecological resources of the project area comprise of different environmental aspects, such as flora and fauna, environmentally sensitive area/ protected areas, rare and endangered species, biodiversity hotspot and special habitat. The Bio-ecological zones defined by IUCN (2000) for Bangladesh are the protected landscapes considering their ecological importance. The eco-resources of the country have depleted due to demographic pressure, natural calamities, deteriorated law and order, poor management and land use conflicts. Hence, the GoB considered several of the sites as environmentally sensitive and declared as protected areas through gazette notifications. Amongst the notified 29 ecologically sensitive landscapes the estuarine land, wetland, mangrove forest and virgin hill forests are also included.

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Project Area

Source: IUCN

Figure 29: Bio-ecological Zone Map (IUCN) of the Project Corridor

2. Agro ecological zone:

193. Bangladesh agro ecological zone has been tentatively divided into 30 zones based on physiography, soils, land levels, flooding and agro-climatology. The agro ecological zone map indicates that the project area is characterized by homogeneous agricultural and ecological characteristic as shown in Figure 30. The impacted zones are mainly Arial Kha bee (5) Titas Floodplain (3), Old Meghna River Floodplain (25), Old Brahmaputra Floodplain (23), Sylhet basin (27) Eastern Surma Kushiyara Floodplain (7) Northern and eastern Hills (21) and Northern and Eastern Piedmont Plain (22) etc.

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Project Area

Source: ResearchGate.net

Figure 30: Agro-ecological Zone Map of the Project Corridor

194. Biodiversity assessments are conducted in the study area and information and data are collected on species population status, critical habitat, and distribution of flora and fauna including freshwater fishes and wildlife along the project road through line transect field survey, visual interpretations/observations, interviews with local people and relevant governmen officials. However, due to limited information on the wildlife presence in the project area, the Integrated Bidiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), an online tool developed through the collaboration of BirdLife International, Conservation International, IUCN, and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC) and relevant literature from secondary sources like published reports are extensively used. Site visits and consultation meetings are also parallelly conducted by environmental representatives with the local forest and wildlife officials of protected areas falling within 10 km buffer zone for any possible threat on wildlife due to the project activities.

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3. Protect Areas/ Key-Biodiversity Areas:

195. Protected areas in Bangladesh include National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Game Reserves. The total protected areas cover about 10.72% of the total forest area of the country according to the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) order 1973. Bangladesh has 16 protected areas, including 8 national parks, 7 wildlife sanctuaries and one game reserve, gazetted under the provision of the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Amendment Act, 1974.

196. There are only four protected areas or key biodiversity areas identified to fall within 10 km buffer zone but none of them are located within 5km buffer of the project alignment and are thus sufficiently away from the project area of impact to cause any significant environmental nuisance from the project implementation. It is pertinent to mention that during the recent site visit of ADB team (February 2020) Forest Departments of Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet informed that there is no National Park, Wildlife sanctuary or similar eco-sensitive area within 10 km buffer of project corridor except Tilagor Eco Park. RHD is awaiting confirmation in writing of the exact distance of the boundaries of the eco park. Based on other secondary information the PAs are retained for further verification. The names, area extent and aerial distance of few of these protected areas are presented in Table 23 and as shown in Figure 31.

Table 23: Protected Areas Located within 10 Km buffer of Project Area

Protected or Key Biodiversity Areas with 10 km Buffer Zone Name of areas Location & Approximate Aerial Area Distance from Project Road (Ha) Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary Habiganj (7 km) 1795 Khadimnagar National Park Sylhet (9 km) 697 Tilagor Eco Park Sylhet (5+720 km) 12 Hail Haor Important Bird Area Moulvibazar (9.4km) 4,000 ha – 14,000 ha (IBA) connected with Baikka Beel Bird Sanctuary) Source: IBAT analysis and Field Information

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Figure 31: Protected Areas Located within 10 Km Buffer of Project Area

197. The project consultants representativies made few site visits and studied these areas to assess the importance in terms of biodiversity, critical habitat and ecological resources as described below.

198. Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary: Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest hill forest in Bangladesh located in the southeast border of Sylhet District, which is located outside 10 km buffer zone of the project area. Total area of the sanctuary is 1,795 hectares. It is an evergreen and semi-evergreen forest. According to the information of the Beat Officer, Kalenga Beat, the forest area is composed of 638 species of plant species, notably Aam (Mangifera indica/DD), Akashmoni/ear-leaf acacia (Acacia auricoliformis/LC), Amloki/amla/Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica/LC), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna/NA), Badorlathi (Cassia fistula/LC), Black Berry (Syzygium cumini/LC), Bohera (Terminalia belerica/NA), Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha/NA), Dewa (Phaleria macrocarpa/NA), Black Plum (Syzygium cumini/LC), Eucaliptus (Eucalyptus acaciiformis/LC), Gorjon (Dipterocarpus turbinatus/VU), Hargoja/Holy Mangrove (Acanthus ilicifolius/LC), Haritaki (Terminalia citrina/LC), Jarul/giant crepe-myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa/NA), Kath Badam/Indian almond/Tavola (Terminalia catappa/LC), Kathal/ (Artocarpus heterophyllus/NA), Kaw/cowa fruit (Garcinia cowa/LC), Koroi/white siris (Albizia procera/LC), Mandar/tiger’s claw (Erythrina variegata/LC), Menjium/brown salwood (Acacia mangium/LC), Neem (Azadirachta indica/LC), Sal (Shorea robusta/LC), Segun/teak (Tectona grandis/NA), Shimul/cotton tree flower (Bombax ceiba/ LC) etc. According to the information of the Forest Department the notable wildlife are Bengal Monitor/yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens/LC), Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa/LC), Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus/LC), Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos/LC), Grey-capped Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica/LC), Greater Racket- tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus/LC), White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis/CR), Black

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Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor/NT), Irrawaddy Squirrel (Callosciurus pygerythrus/LC), Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus/VU), Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei/EN), Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis/EN), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta/LC), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus/VU), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa/LC), Barking Deer/Indian muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis/LC) etc.

199. Khadimnagar National Park: Khadimnagar National Park is situated in the northeast side of the Sylhet City, which is about 9 km far away from the project road (Sylhet-Tamabil Road intersection). According to the information of Khadinagar CMC (Co- management Committee), total area of the national park is 697.00 hectare and the forest is composed of various plant species, mainly Bamboo (Bambusa tulda/NA), Chalta/ Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica/LC), Champa (Magnolia champaca/LC), Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha/NA), Chikrashi (Chukrasia tabularis/LC), Dhaki Jam/Black plum (Syzygium cumini/LC) Myanmar ironwood (Xylia dolabiformis/LC) etc.

Notable wildlife species are Bengal Monitor/yellow monitor (Varanus Photo 3: Khadimnagar National Park, Sylhet flavescens), Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa/LC), Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus/LC), Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos/LC), Common Otter (Lutra lutra/NT), Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica/LC), Large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha/LC), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta/LC), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca leonina/VU) and Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus/VU). Nonetheless, the Dhaka-Sylhet Project construction activities will not harm any ecology of the national park, while this project will foster the visitors’ movement facilities to the sightseeing sports.

200. Tilagor Eco Park: Tilagor Eco Park is 8 km away from the north-east corner of Sylhet, which is about 5.72 km away from the Project Road towards Sylhet-Tamabil Road. According to the information of the Eco Park Authority, the area of the Eco Park is 12 ha, contains dense forest and various types of natural plants and trees, like Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha), Sal (Shorea robusta/LC) Garjan/mangrove tree (Rhizophora apiculate/LC), Jam/Black Plum (Syzygium cumini/LC), Segun (Tectona grandis), Cane (Arundinaria spp.), Akashmoni/ear- leaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis/LC), Haritaki (Terminalia citrina/LC), Karoch/Pongame Oiltree (Pongamia pinnata/LC), Champa Flower (Magnolia champaca/LC), Jarul/ giant crepe- myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa/NA), Hijal/ mango-pine mangrove (Barringtonia acutangula/LC) etc.

201. Various types of animals are seen in the forest in wild environment, like Bengal Monitor (Varanus flavescens/LC), Rock/burmese Python (Python bivittatus/VU), Royal Python (Malayopython reticulatus/LC), Binocellate Cobra (Naja naja/NA), Monocellate Cobra (Naja kaouthia/LC), Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus/LC), Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa/LC), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta/LC), Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus/VU), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus/EN), Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis/EN), Indian Hare (Lepus nigricollis/LC), Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata/EN), Common Otter (Lutra lutra/NT), Large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha/LC), Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica/LC), Palm Civet

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(Paradoxurus hermaphroditus/LC), Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus/LC), Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus/LC), Asiatic Jackal (Canis aureus/LC), Bengal Fox (Vulpes bengalensis/LC) etc.

Photo 4: Tilagr Eco-Park, Moulvibazar

Hail Haor: Hail Haor is an important tourist attractive spot in Bangladesh. It is an important tourist place for bird watching, especially in winter season. Hail Haor is one of the major inland wetlands of Bangladesh. It is located about 3 km north-west of Srimongal Town and 14 km (8.7 mi) southwest of Moulvibazar Town. The area is about 9.4 km far away from the project area (Sherpur point of Dhaka- Sylhet road). The Baikka Beel Bird Sanctuary is located in the southern part of Hail Haor with an area of 170 ha. It is a suitable area for biodiversity restoration. According to the information of local people and an NGO (CNRS), there are large varieties of waterfowls found in the sanctuary. The waterfowls up to a population of 40,000 to 50,000 are seen in each winter.

The water fowls mainly observed are Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica/LC), Fulvous Whistling Duck (D. bicolor/LC), Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus/LC), Garganey (Anas querquedula/LC), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta/LC), Northern Shoveler (A. clypeata/LC), Common Teal (A. crecca/LC), Common Pochard (Aythya nyroca/NT), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula/LC), Gadwall (Anas strepera/LC), Spotbill Duck (A. poecilorhyncha/LC), Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus/LC), Greylag Goose (Anser anser/LC), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea/LC), Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos/LC), Falcated Teal (Anas falcata/NT), Mallard (A. platyrhynchos/LC), Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina/LC), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina/VU), Baer's Pochard (A. baeri/CR), Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis/LC), Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger/LC), Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii/LC), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis/LC), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta/LC), Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia/LC), Great Egret (Ardea alba/LC), Water Cock (Gallicrex cinerea/LC), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus/LC), Purple Swamphen (Porphyria porphyria/NA), Common Coot (Fulica atra/LC), Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus/LC), Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus/LC), along with other egrets, gulls, herons and terns.

The wildlife includes mainly amphibians, like Bull Frog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus/LC), Skipper Frog (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis/LC), Cricket Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis/LC) etc.; reptiles, like Common Smooth-scaled Water Snake (Enhydris enhydris/LC), Cheekered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator/NA), Yellow Monitor (Varanus flavescens/LC). The fishes include Catla (Catla catla/NA), Rui (Labeo rohita/LC), Kaliboush (L. calbasu/LC), Gulsha Tengra (Mystus tengara/LC), Ghoinna (L. gonius/LC), Boal (Wallago attu/VU), Air (Mystus aor/LC) and Modhu Pabda (Ompok pabda/NT), Chapila (Gudusia chapra/LC), Foli (Notopterus notopterus/LC), Magur/walking catfish (Clarias batrachus/LC), Sing

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(Heteropneustes fossilis/LC), Taki/spotted snakehead (Channa punctatus/LC), Koi (Anabas testudineus/LC) etc.

Photo 5: Birds in Hail Haor, Moulvibazar in Winter Season

It is to be noted that all these biodiversity hotspots or ecologically sensitive locations are located sufficiently away from the project road. It is anticipated that construction activities of the project will not bring any adverse impacts on flora, fauna and wildlife in these sensitive areas as these sensitive locations are located at sufficient distance (~9km) from the project road.

The COI of the Dhaka-Sylhet double lane project falls entirely within the modified habitat due to extensive human inhabitation and related activities such as agricultural and other industrial ones. The true natural habitats lie beyond 5 km, already outside the project direct impact zone. The modified habitats within the project area are terrestrial and aquatic ones, as described in the following sections.

4. Flora:

202. Terrestrial Flora: The terrestrial fauna under project areas were assessed from visual observations, review of literature, and information documented by forest department. The project area consists of several ecological subsystems e.g. open agricultural land, homesteads, and roadside vegetation. The open agriculture land ecosystem dominates the area providing widespread habitat types for various species of flora under flooded and non- flooded conditions. The vegetation covers of agricultural lands are different crop species, weeds and other herbaceous plants species. The homesteads trees are mainly by fruit, timber, fuel wood, medicinal plants and various multipurpose tree species of different sizes. Dominant terrestrial tree species are rain tree (Samanea saman), debadaru (Polyalthia longifolia), mahogany (Swietonia spp), raj koroi (Albizia richardiana), babla (Albizia nilotica), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), jack fruit (Artocurpus heterophylus), planted on existing RoW of Dhaka-Sylhet road. In addition, some homestead trees will be impacted within the additional new land acquisition areas. Homestead species are mango (Mangifera indica), black berry (Syzygium cumini), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), coconut (Cocos nucifera), betel nut (Areca catechu), hijal (Baringtonia acutangula), mandar (Erithrina indica), and several fuel wood species, etc.

203. During environmental survey, the trees were inventoried, which are likely be impacted for felling due to proposed widening of the project road and in realignments sections. A total of about 259,670 trees (of them 2,09,224 trees girth size over >30 cm) falling within proposed ROW under RHD land, Govt. CPRs land, private land and private CPRs land is enumerated to be impacted from the proposed widening and is shown in Table 24. About 86,156 trees found on the govt. land premises and the remaining 173,514 on the private lands. It is

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anticipated that no critical or special habitats will be impacted by the project work as the proposed alignment donot passes through any notified protected areas or eco-sensitive zone boundary. The impacted trees on right and left sides of the existing RoW of RHD, Govt. CPRs land and in private lands with different girth sizes are presented in Annex 19. The tree species names, habit, habitat type, local status and uses of trees are presented in Annex 20. No record of any rare, endangered or vulnerable species within the project alignment is reported according to officials of Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Moulvibazar, District Forest Office Sylhet etc. The important tree species are rubber trees and fruit bearing trees found along the alignment which are of considerable economic value.

Table 24. Affected Trees within the Proposed RoW of the Project

RHD and Govt Trees and Private Trees

Packages Grith size Grith size Grith size Grith size Grith size Total <30 cm 30-50 cm 50- 80 cm 80- 120 120- 180 cm cm

DS-1 11,464 2,593 3,364 2,593 1,296 21,310

DS-2 8,935 1,998 2,130 1,247 624 14,933

DS-3 2,807 24,542 17,995 6,836 3,419 55,599

DS-4 184 1,167 1,479 664 331 3,825

DS-5 1,639 3,605 3,034 1,652 826 10,755

DS-6 2,039 2,768 2,859 1,393 696 9,755

DS-7 2,012 5,172 5,762 1,946 973 15,865

DS-8 3,265 4,750 3,981 1,498 750 14,244

DS-9 5,650 7,732 7,306 4,956 2,478 28,122

DS-10 8,011 20,649 17,559 10,463 5,232 61,913

DS-11 1,840 3,031 2,707 1,831 915 10,324

Ds-12A 1,620 1,689 1,761 953 1,765 7,788

DS-12B 979 1,497 1,095 1,190 476 5,237

Total 50,446 81,192 71,030 37,221 19,781 259,670

Source: Field Survey 2020

204. Aquatic Flora: Aquatic flora and fauna observed in the project area are some economically important aquatic plants like Nalkhagra (Phragmites karka) and Dholkalmi (Ipomea fistulosa) and these are used for erecting bio-fences, while kalmi shak (Ipomea aquatica), helencha (Enhydra fluctuans) and stems of White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba), Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea pubescens) and Beguni Water Lily (Nymphaea nouchali) etc. are locally consumed as vegetables. Aquatic plant species recorded in the canals and borrow pits in the project area are: Jaldurba (Sporobolus tremulus), Sada pani ghas (Lindernia antipoda), Mutha (Cyperus rutundus), Tridhara (Tridax procumbens), Kanaibashi (Commelina benghalensis),

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Mononoya (Commelina diffusa), Amroli (Oxalis europea), Panimorich (Jussiaea decurrens), Sil tatu (Sacciolepis indica), Arali (Leersia hexandra), Holde mutha (Cyperus esculentus), chanchi (Alternanthera sessilis). Fruits of Water Lily are consumed as succulent seasonal fruits.

Among Planktons (Zooplankton and Phytoplankton), major groups in the water bodies under project area are: protozoans, rotiferas, nauplii, copepod, cladocerans and ostracods. Some of zooplankton species includes Centopyxis sp. and Difllugia sp. (Protozoa), and Cyclops (Copepoda) Brachionus anglularis, Brachionus forcicula, Keratella cochlearis (Rotifera); Nauplius and Metanauplius etc.

The aquatic flora like Dholkalmi (Ipomoea fistulosa), Kachuripana or Water hyacinth (Elchhornis), Khudi Kachuripana (Lemna Spp), Sheola (Biysca octandra) are common. Water hyacinth is gathered together within a bamboo frame under which fishes seek shelter. The project area rivers where proposed bridges will be constructed, is not the specific habitat for any particular floral species hence none such species will be specifically affected due to project implementation. IBAT screening did not indicate any threatened floral species in these rivers nor within the 50km buffer except for marine intertidal magnoliopsid species.

5. Fauna:

205. Terrestrial Fauna: Wildlife species in homestead ecosystem include the birds, amphibians, reptiles, rodents and mammals like mongoose, jackal, cats, monkey, etc. Total of 75 faunal species reported in the project area from the officials of forest department and local people. Out of these 50 species are avifaunal species (out of which 11 are migratory birds’ species), 5 are amphibians, 9 are reptilia and 11 are mammals as shown in Figure 32.

Wildlife Within Project Area

Amphibia, 5

Mamalia, 11 Reptilia, 9

Avifauna, 50

Amphibia Reptilia Avifauna Mamalia

Figure 32. Wildlife within Project Area Generally, terrestrial fauna observed in rural areas of the project areas are Gui Shap (Varanus nubulosus), Tiktiki (Hemidactylus Brooke), Dhora Shap (Amphiesma stolata, Kassap (Chitra idica) etc. None of the species are found vulnerable or/ and endangered in Bangladesh due to habitat loss, over exploitation, natural calamities and lacking of management.

6. Wildlife in Raghunandan Hill Forest section:

206. The project alignment pass through 100m of Raghunandan hill section designated under forest category under Habiganj division as shown in Figure 33. Raghunandan Hill forest is not a protected area in its entirety but cradles the Satchari National Park identified in the IBAT screening as beyond the 10km buffer. Relatively good forest cover occurs at least >6km from the alignment at the nearest point. The Raghunandan hill is a table land type hillock with an elevation varying from 50-60m from ground level. Road alignment near this section has

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been proposed to be improved due to presence of long curve. Presently there is a level crossing near Raghunandan hill over which a viaduct has been proposed. This will serve the dual purposes of removing traffic bottleneck and facilitate free and safe movement of wildlife. The proposed alignment passes through fringe area of Raghunandan hill. This northern part of the forest patch is very small and already fragmented after construction of existing road in the past, agricultural and industrial activities, and human habitation along the alignment.

207. Site visits are conducted with officials of Forest office, Habiganj and Sylhet as well consultations are held with the local residents along the road adjoining hill areas. It was reported that movement of some wildlife like Rhesus Macaque (Banor), Indian Crested Porcupine (Sojaru), Irrawaddy Squirrel (Badami Kathbirali), Flying Fox (Badur), Indian Pipistrelle (Chamchika), Jungle Cat (Ban Biral), Common Palm Civet (Gondho Gokul), Small Indian Civet (Khatash), Small Indian Mongoose (Chhoto Beji), Common Mongoose (Boro Beji), Asiatic Jackal (Pati Shial), Bengal Fox (Khek Shial), Wild boar, Indian fox, Indian grey mongoose etc. are often seen in the hill areas. However, during field survey, movement of any wildlife near the Raghunandan Hill was not observed within the Raghunandan hill section.

Figure 33: Raghunandan Hill Forest Area under DS-7 section

208. Red List Species: None of the species recorded in the survey and consultations are categorized as critically endangered or endangered or endemic to the region. However, a few of the mammalian species like Rhesus Macaque (Banor), Bengal Fox (Khek Shial) are considered vulnerable while others like Jungle Cat (Ban Biral), Common Mongoose (Boro Beji) are recorded as near threatened species. These species occur in less disturbed parts of the Raghunandhill located away from the road, towards Satchari National Park and are unlikely to be impacted by project activities.

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209. Avifauna: The avifaunal common species are bulbul, magpie, sparrow, pond heron, robin, cuckoos, hawks, ducks, myna, owls, king fisher, fly catcher doel etc are major resident birds.

210. Migratory Birds: In Bangladesh, 171 species are migratory birds of which 160 are winter visitors, six are summer and 10 are passage migrants. Bangladesh is located on the cross path of two major migratory flyways and Sylhet region is the large home of the migratory birds. The project road crosses several rivers, branches of rivers and low-lying areas in the realignments. Particularly, the char lands are seasonal natural process of riverine ecology and habitats (water channel and sandbars) support a wide variety of bird species. Most of the migratory bird’s species come in the project area from mountainous regions in the northern parts of the subcontinent, namely Himalayas and beyond and some birds come from different parts of Europe and far eastern part of Siberi. Many birds nest on sandbars, feed along or in the channel. During winter seasons a number of migratory birds invade char lands of big bridge locations and water bodies located nearby the project road. An assessment on migratory bird’s availability around project bridge locations at Arial Khan river, old Brahmaputra river, Titas river, Sutang river, Khowai river, Kushiyara river and Sadipur khal were carried out through observations and consultations with local people and few Govt. officials viz; District Fishery Office (DFO), Narshingdi, Assistant Agri. Engineer, Agriculture Department (BADC) Narshingdi, Senior Upazila Fishery Officer at Bhairab in Kishorgan, Range officer of Department Forest, Fish survey officer of Department of Fishery Sylhet etc. The presence of migratory birds (as √ mark) with their scientific name, common names and Bengali names are presented in Table 25.

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Table 25: Presence of Migratory Birds at Rivers Banks of Major Bridge

S. Scientific Name Common Occurrence of Migratory Birds No. Name Arial Old Brahmaputra Titas Satang Khowai Kushiyara Saidpur Khal Kha

F- Cuculidae 1. Cuculus Indian Cuckoo Boukothakou √ (in √ (in nearby micropterus Papia nearby garden) garden)

F - Charadridae 2. Charadrius Lesser Sand Chhoto Duljiria √ √ √ √ mongolus Plover 3. Vanellus Grey-headed Metematha Titi √ √ √ √ cinereus Lapwing

F - Scolopacidae 4. Gallinago Pin-tailed Lenja Chega √ √ √ √ √ √ √ stenura Snipe 5. Gallinago Common Pati Chega √ √ √ √ √ √ √ gallinago Snipe 6. Actitis Common Pati Batan √ √ √ hypoleucos Sandpiper 7. Tringa glareola Wood Ban Batan √ √ √ √ Sandpiper

F - Hirundinidae

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S. Scientific Name Common Bengali Name Occurrence of Migratory Birds No. Name Arial Old Brahmaputra Titas Satang Khowai Kushiyara Saidpur Khal Kha 8. Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow Metho Ababil √ √ √ √

F - Sylvidae 9. Megalurus Striated Dagi Ghas Pakhi √ √ palustris Grassbird

F - Motacillidae 10. Motacilla alba White Wagtail Sada Khonjon √ √ √ √ 11. Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail Mete Khonjon √ √ √ √ 12. Anthus rufulus Paddyfield Dhani Tulika √ (in nearby field) √ (in √ (in √ (in Pipit nearby nearby nearby field) field) field) Source: Field survey

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211. Aquatic Fauna: Aquatic life includes snake, snails, prawn, crabs, freshwater mussels etc are often seen by villagers. Aquatic fauna in the project area like Asian openbill stork (Anastemus oscitans), Freshwater mussel (Lamellideus marginalis), Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis), Checkered keelback (Xencehrophis piscator) are common. Among other aquatic animals include, shrimps and prawns, like Monsoon River Prawn (Macrobrachium malcolmsonii), Slender river prawn (Macrobrachium idella), Dimua river prawn (Macrobrachium villosimanus), Pinocchio shrimp (Caridina gracilirostris); Mollusks, like Freshwater snail (Pila globosa), Large freshwater snail (Bellamya bengalensis), Red-rimmed melania (Melanoides tuberculata), Rams Horn Snail (Indoplanorbis exustus), Gyraulus (Gyraulus convexiusculus); and crabs, etc. have been reported in different canals, rivers and ponds of the project area. Some aquatic birds divide their time between aquatic and terrestrial environments, while others spend most of them lives in water bodies and returning to land only to breed as provided in Table 25.

212. Large Hail hoar, Baikka beel, Hakaluki haor are located in Moulvibazar district and are characterized by wetland ecosystem with aquatic flora and fauna. Haor is designated an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) by DoE, but is located 9km away from the project alignment.

213. Fish Resources: Alongside the existing project road and four proposed realignments sections 297 ponds are partially impacted, out of which only few of them are cultured ponds (suitable for fish cultivation); and are particularly located between Katchpur Bridge to Narshingdi, and some other section of the road. Commonly cultured fish found in the ponds are Rui/Rohu (Labeo rohita), Bata/Minor Carp (Labeo bata), Katal/South Asian Carp (Catla catla), Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), Thai Pangus (Pangasius hypophthalmus), Tilapia (Oreochromis mosambicus), Nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus) etc.

214. Rivers/Canal fishing: Fishes are of immense socio-economic importance and are caught round the year from major rivers and its tributaries/distributaries alongside the project road. The fish catch tends to peak in month from May to June, due to the mass migration of variety of fishes in the upstream waters from October to November and when the floods subside and fish return from floodplain to the rivers. Fish species in rivers are mainly major carps, catfish, small shrimp, miscellaneous small fish, etc. It is generally noted, that only few variety of fishes species are presently available in rivers and canals within project area which may be attributed to increasing water pollution load from the disposal of industrial discharge into the rivers.

215. Field survey of fish catch was carried at 26 landing and fishing locations near bridges above 50m, crossing rivers and tributaries/distributaries through structured questionnaire. The survey considered year-round availability of fish and accounted for possible seasonal variation. Most of the large bridge sites are found suitable for fish resources and are located in Old Brahmaputra, Titas, Kushiyara River (Sherpur Bridge Point) and lower portion of Surma River (Shadipur Bridge Point). Average year-round daily fish catches of different types range from 3 kg to 700 kg whereas small miscellaneous or mixed small fishes catch are highest in these rivers. According to the information of local people and fishermen, these catch fish usage for both selling and own consumption. IBAT freshwater screening was also used to determine sensitivities on all subbasins along the road. The critical habitat assessment did not find any sensitivity in the project area regarding aquatic species.

216. Floodplain fishing: The northeast part of Bangladesh, Sylhet Division is low-lying and Haor areas and rich in fish resources. There is open access fishing across all flooded areas, haors and beels (seasonal freshwater lakes and marshes of the flood plains, which are bowl- shaped depression between the natural levees of a river during the monsoon season). Subsistence fishing is generally undertaken by all most all rural households in the project area

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during this period. The common species available within the water bodies are catfish, snakehead, live fish and other smaller fishes. There are some low-lying agricultural lands and borrow pits alongside the road, which are seasonally flooded and used for fish culture.

Photo 6: Interaction with locals during Fish survey, Brahmanbaria; 10th March 2020

217. Dolphin: Two categories of dolphin, viz; Gangetic dolphins (Platanista gangetica) and Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) are reported in Bangladesh. Gangetic Dolphins occur in freshwater rivers and estuaries, whilst the Irrawaddy dolphin lives in the brackish and saline waters in the coast belt of Bangladesh. Gangetic dolphins are morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from marine dolphins. In general, Platanista gangetica are mostly found in deep pools in river meanders and confluences, and also often in seasonally flooded areas.

218. Ganges dolphins are also named Shushuk in many parts of Bangladesh. Gangetic Dolphins are distributed in major river systems in Bangladesh including the rivers Padma, Jamuna, Burhi Ganga, Kushiyara, Meghna, -Sangu and the . Gangetic river dolphin, has declared as endangered globally by IUCN, 2012 and placed in the First Schedule of Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation & Security) Acts, 2012. This species is important in the river ecology as an indicator to ensure long term survival of rivers eco-system of Bangladesh.

219. Dolphins are flagship species of river conservation which can benefit aquatic and threatened species in rivers and local communities who survive on aquatic resources. Meghna river is a major river in the river system of Bangladesh which appears to support Gangetic dolphins in northeastern region of Bangladesh as the water level in Meghna river remains high enough in winter to support dolphin’s population.

220. Since, Meghna river bridge is excluded from Dhaka-Sylhet project road (4-lane Bhairab Bridge already constructed over Meghna river) so anticipated impact on dolphin population is highly unlikely. On the other hand, water depth at Surma and Kushiyara rivers remains critically low in winter season to support ideal habitat for dolphin population. Recent studies conducted on dolphin population in Kushiyara river also articulates that no Dolphin species reported in Kushiyara river.

221. According to the information from local community and officials of Deparatment of Fishery in Narshingdi, Senior Upazila Fishery Officer, Bhairab, Kishoreganj, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Moulvibazar, Upazila Fishery Officer, Osmaninagar, Sylhet and Fish Survey Officer, District Fishery Office, Sylhet etc and it is confirmed that the Gangetic Dolphin (Plataisnta gangetica) are not available at close proximity of any major bridge locations, like Arial Khan river, Old Brahmaputra river, Titas river, Khowai river and Kushiyara rivers and thus

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it is expected that construction of any bridges will not have adverse impacts on the Dolphin resources in the riverine system of the project areas.

222. Critical Habitat Assessment: The critical habitat assessment (Attachment 1) determined that part of the COI and the AoA (ROW plus 10km buffer) falls within a Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) notified by GOB. This is an area covering an identified core zone or breeding area of critically endangered White-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis, and a 100 km buffer. The area is designated to protect the severely threatened species from further decline, mostly due to ingestion of diclofenac-laced cattle meat. The baseline survey was not able to document the occurrence of this species in the AoA. However, past surveys have documented the existence of vulture in Habiganj district (around 80 numbers in Rema Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary). This represents 30.8% of the national population. Bangladeshi population represents 2.6% of the global population. Though the national population may look insignificant at the global level, the AoA population represents significant numbers at the national level. The chances of direct impact from the project on this species is very low as there are no reports of nesting and breeding sites within project direct AoI. However, during construction, labourers may cause disturbance or harass the birds if they happen to be in the construction zone.

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B. Socio-economic Environment

1. Agriculture and Minerals:

227. The project road passes through Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj Moulvibazar and Sylhet, and these are being considered as the project impacted districts or influence zone of the project.

228. Agriculture: In the project area, agriculture is primarily based on rice production. This is supplemented by horticulture, livestock and fisheries in the farming system. The majority of Bangladesh population still depends directly or indirectly on traditional and subsistence agriculture. Rice is the main agricultural crop in all project-impacted districts. Other crops are wheat, sugarcane, potato, pluses etc., In addition, jute, mustard seed, linseed, sesame, sweet potato, chinaware, and kaun are produced in these districts. Varieties of vegetables like carrot, cauliflowers, brinjal, pumkin, cucumber, beans, etc., are common in the project area. The cultivated land type classification under seven districts are presented in Table 26.

Table 26. Land Type Classes within the Project Districts

District Hill Cultivated Lands Type Classification Miscellaneous Total Land Land HL MHL MLL LL VLL Total

Narayanganj 387 5643 9612 15255 7268 2242 40020 12444 52464

Narsingdi 387 16433 31765 19594 19662 1853 89307 21876 111183

Brahmanbaria 1194 6640 31842 58844 28614 31470 157410 25301 183905

Kishoreganj 1173 28811 39357 42725 76049 26628 213570 43688 257258

Habiganj 32644 17772 49290 48214 59530 18692 193498 25979 252121

Moulvibazar 86676 11892 70299 29019 16149 11206 138565 32120 257361

Sylhet 14374 23010 81519 74315 68688 23471 271003 60026 345403

Note: Land Type Classification, HL=High Land, MHL=Medium High Land, MLL=Medium Low Land, LL=Low Land, VLL=Very Low Land, Miscellaneous Land include settlement, ponds, water bodies, river, Channel, Brick field etc. Source: Statistical Yearbook Bangladesh 2016, Population & Housing Census-2011, Community Report Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar & Sylhet.

229. Mineral Resources: The greater Sylhet region is the most enriched area of Bangladesh in mineral resources. A large quantity of the gas reserve and oil field are located here. The area has also vast mineral deposit of limestone, peat, glass-sand hard- rock grave. The huge sedimentary body is dominantly composed of sand and mud with subordinated limestone. The sand-mud composition of the sedimentary body, along with technically developed favorable structural set up (exposed and covered folds and faults mainly) have made the Sylhet region highly potential for occurrence of natural resources. Mud act as sources, sands as reservoirs, while folds (anticlines) act as traps for hydrocarbons (gas and oil).

The only oil field of the country is located in Haripur of the Sylhet district. The Haripur oil is discovered in sandstone layers within a subsurface fold called Sylhet Anticline which is about 13 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide; producing horizons are around 2000 meters depths and two closely spaced oil-

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horizons have been detected. Maximum oil reserve is estimated to be around 21 million barrels. Limestone’s reserve present on close to the surface in the Takergaht-Lalghat areas of the northwestern part of the Sylhet region along its border with the Indian state of Meghalaya. Peat reserve, Glass-sand, hard rock Gravel are found in the Moulvibazar area. In Shahzibazar of the Habiganj district, the Glass- sand reserve of about 1.41 million tons is found which is dominantly composed of silica. The hard-rock gravels of up to 1 meter in diameter are found on the stream beds that drain the hilly areas of Meghalaya and fall on the flat land within Bangladesh territory along the northern parts of the Sylhet region. The mineral reserve such as natural gas, silica sand, mineral sand are mainly found in the Sylhet region. The , Rashidpur gas field (1960), Bibiana gas field (1998), etc. are located in Habiganj district, but those are not close to the project road.

2. Economic Development:

226. Industries: Bangladesh has nearly 24,000 big and small cottage industries and 6,000 medium/large industries. There are in addition 11,500 sawmills and 8,000 brickfields located in suburban and urban areas. The project road passes mostly over the northeast region of the Bangladesh. Many large and medium industries developed in this region. The exportoriented industries developed and flourished with the growth of the Export Processing Zones at Narayanganj. It is a center of business and industries such as textile, garment industries, jute trade and processing plants, etc. Katchpur is becoming an industrial town and mostly are cottage industries. Weaving is traditionally the most important cottage industry. The readymade garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh is an important sector of the nation's economy that gives employment to about 1.5 million workers and earns about 86% of total foreign exchange. There are a manygarments industries have been also developed in Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria and Sylhet division. In Sylhet, large business center, local cottage industries and township have been developed funded by the people who are living and working aboard, especially migrant people in UK from Sylhet. Presently an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Sylhet is established.

3. Infrastructure and Transportation:

227. The major infrastructures include land transport, air transport and waterway facilities in the seven districts. Land transport includes mechanized road transport, non-mechanized road transport and Bangladesh Roadway. In Bangladesh, the important townships were connected by 4,053 Km roadway track that carried 44.5 million passengers. The situation has changed since 1975, presently the length of LGED road is 251,610 Km and RHD managed road is 20,878 Km. As a result of improvement of road transportation system district, sub-District (upazila), town even growth centers are connected with each other by all-weather roads. District-wise length of roads under RHD by Road Classification in 2016 is shown in Table 27. Country boat, steamer and motorized water transports were the means of passenger and freight transportation in the Project impacted districts. Presently, the road transportation is the major mode of communication in all districts. There are buses, trucks, motorbikes, auto rickshaw and various other motorized vehicles. There are in addition large number of unconventional road transports e.g. rickshaw, push cart, bullock cart ply in Bangladesh both in urban and rural roads. Sylhet city is well connected with one international airport.

Table 27: Length of Road under RHD by Road Classification, 2016

District National Regional Highways Zila Road (Km) Total Road Highways (km) (km) Width=5.49 m Width=3.66 m (Km) Width=7.32 m

Narayanganj 77.85 79.733 62.78 220.360

Narsingdi 52.61 117.405 200.68 370.697

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Brahmanbaria 81.29 84.338 25301 183905

Kishoreganj 2.29 137.77 248.94 389.004

Habiganj 128.10 103.16 92.08 323.34

Moulvibazar 89.79 75.50 143.50 308.79

Sylhet 140.21 165.09 238.79 544.09

Source: Statistical Year Bangladesh 2016 & RHD 4. Land Uses:

228. Landuse within the seven districts are predominately rural and some sections are semi urban and urban uses including rivers, canal and other water bodies. The landscape is predominantly, though not completely, flat between Dhaka (Katchpur) to Sylhet with coverage of vegetation, agricultural lands, buildup areas, water bodies, fellow lands and road and railway network. The landuse pattern within 10 km buffer of the project corridor is presented into three-stretch i) from Dhaka-Katchpur (starting point) to Bhairab as show in Figure 34; ii) from Bhairab to Shayestaganj as show in Figure 35 and iii) from Shayestaganj to Sylhet, the end of the project as shown in Figure 36. The vegetation coverages 22.73%, 29.50% and 20, 36%, agricultural lands coverage 21.69%, 18.24% and 20.55%, and built-up areas coverage 3.34%, 2.77% and 5.85% are found in landuse stretches 1, 2 and 3, respectively. River/ waterbodies are highest 4.86% in stretch one. On the other hand, the coverage of land use within the proposed RoW is largely rural cum agricultural lands (38%), existing road (16%), plantation (14%), built-up area (12%), pond/ditch/waterbody (13%) and fallow lands (7%).

229. The Landuse distribution within the propoed RoW of all Contract Packages are also shown in Figure 37. Highest proportion of impacted waterbodies (~35%) within the RoW is found in Contract Package 12B due to presence of ponds, beel and lowlying area at end portion of the new alignment.

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Figure 34: Landuse Map from Starting Point Dhaka Katchpur to Bhairab

Figure 35: Landuse Map from Bhairab to Shayestaganj

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Figure 36: Landuse Map from Shayestaganj to Sylhet

230. Below Table 28 shows the summarized landuse categories within 10 km buffer of the study area which shows that the project buffer area is mostly composed of vegetation, fallow and agricultural land.

Table 28: Land use classification witin 10 km buffer

Landuse Type Stretch-1 Stretch-2 Stretch-3 % Composition Area (ha)

Vegetation/Forest 22.73 29.5 29.35 27.19 307556

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Landuse Type Stretch-1 Stretch-2 Stretch-3 % Composition Area (ha)

Plantation/Shrub/Grassland 27.25 22.5 15.62 21.79 246445

Agricultural Land 21.69 18.24 20.55 20.16 228010

Built-up Areas 3.34 2.77 5.85 3.99 45089

Road Network 3.27 1.5 3.47 2.75 31065

Railway Network 0.2 0.51 0.22 0.31 3506

Waterbodies/River 4.07 1.12 2.05 2.41 27295

Waste/Fallow Land 17.45 23.86 22.89 21.40 242034

Total 100 100 100 100 11,31,000

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Land Use Coverage Within Proposed ROW

DS-12 B 8 7 35 38 10 2

DS-12 A 9 13 10 41 10 17

DS-11 12 17 8 39 7 17

DS-10 23 10 11 35 3 17

DS-9 17 10 9 40 7 17

DS-8 13 21 8 37 5 17

DS-7 14 0 6 55 8 17

DS-6 13 11 10 42 7 17

DS-5 16 13 12 36 6 17

DS-4 7 12 15 41 8 17

DS-3 19 17 10 30 7 17

DS-2 13 20 8 37 4 17

DS-1 14 15 19 27 8 17

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Plantation % Built up Area %

Pond / Ditch Borrow- pit % Rural cum Argicutural Land %

Fallow Lands % Existing Road Section %

Figure 37. Landuse Coverage within Proposed RoW of the Project

5. Socio-Economic Condition:

231. The people in the area are traditionally dependent on agriculture. Many local people have also adopted involvement in garment sector as a form of income. The rural economy of Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria. Kishoreganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts is agriculture. Many people in the region have changed their source of income in garments sector, transport industry, other industries, and other activities on daily basis.

Narayanganj district is pioneer in merchandising yarn and dying items including cottage industry. Economy depends on the international trading, import and export business, shipyard, brickfields, etc. Development of small and medium industries of cotton waves knitting, etc. is being increasing which create employment opportunities to the people. The largest river port located on the bank of the

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Shitalakhya River in Narayanganj and another one in Bhairab are business centers, which governs most economic condition of the areas.

Bangladesh imports boulders, coal, leather and limestone from India and exports pickles, juice, chips and other goods through Tamabil port at Sylhet's Goainghat Upazila. Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts like elsewhere in Bangladesh are prone to rapid urbanization that will be more accelerated due to the construction of the 4-lane road. Implementation of the proposed project will encourage more urbanization and increase land prices.

232. Demography: Bangladesh enumerated population was 106.31 million in 1991 and 142.39 million in 2011 with average annual growth rate 1.58% in 1991-2001 and 1.34% in 201-2011. The project road passes through the seven districts. The total population, sex composition, sex, HHs number and HHs size and population density are presented in Table 29. Highest population was in Sylhet and the lowest was in Moulvibazar, while the population density was highest in Narayanganj and the lowest was in Moulvibazar.

Table 29: Population, Sex, HHs Number, Average HH Size and Population Density

District Total Total Male in Female Sex HHs Avg. Populati Area populatio thousan in Ratio HHs on (nos) (km2) n (in d thousan Size density thousand) d (/km2)

Narayanga 684.35 2948 1521 1426 106.6 675652 4.34 4307 nj

Narsingdi 1150.1 2225 1103 1122 98.3 477976 4.60 1934 0

Brahmanba 1881.2 2840 1367 1473 92.7 538937 5.25 1509 ria 0

Kishoregan 2688.5 2912 1432 1480 96.8 627322 4.60 1083 j 3

Habiganj 2636.5 2089 1026 1063 96.4 393302 5.30 792 9

Moulvibaza 2799.4 1919 945 974 97.0 361177 5.30 685 r 0

Sylhet 3452.0 3434 1727 1707 101.2 596081 5.74 994 7

(Source: Statistical Year Bangladesh 2016, Population & Housing Census-2011, Community Report Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar & Sylhet)

233. Indigenous People: The population within the project impacted districts are almost . The minorities are indigenous peoples belonging to different ethnic groups in different districts, but mainstream lives in Sylhet division. The ethnic groups in Sylhet are Khasi, Manipuri, Garo, Patro, Bishnupriya, and Santal. Among these groups the Manipuri and the Khasi are greatest in population in Sylhet Division. Each group has distinct linguistic and cultural practices. It is estimated that more than one hundred thousand indigenous people, (1.5% of Sylhet Division’s population) live in Sylhet Division with various unique characteristics. In all districts, the indigenous people inhabit in remote areas with a large portion of people living a very hard life. The number of total households (HHs), tribal HHs and rural tribal HHs within the seven districts under the project area is presented in Table

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30. The Lawachorra rainforest is the home for the two Manipuri and Khasia tribes of the surrounding region. Sylhet region is also well- known for its profound art and culture, in which the contribution of the local tribes is remarkable. However, the proposed road project has been fully assessed for any potential impacts on tribal communities which found that there are no tribal communities along the COI nor would it have any negative impacts on IP communities residing away from the COI.

Table 30: Tribal Population and Tribal Households in Project Areas

District Total Tribal Tribal Rural Total Tribal Tribal Population Population Population HHs HHs Rural HHs

Narayanganj 2948217 899 577 663088 193 114

Narsingdi 1895984 140 385361 22

Brahmanbaria 2398254 621 562 429390 112 102

Kishoreganj 2911907 433 372 627322 96 82

Habiganj 2089001 65802 64957 393302 14572 14405

Moulvibazar 1919062 63466 361177 13217

Sylhet 3434188 12781 9554 596081 2495 1890

(Source: Population & Housing Census, Zila Report, 2011, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar & Sylhet)

234. Health and Education Facilities: The Health Service facilities like elsewhere in Bangladesh are provided by public and private sector organizations, NGOs and individual medical practitioners. GoB is responsible providing health services, education, hospital and health policies. The General hospital, Upazila Health Complex and many family welfare centers including private clinics, maternity and child welfare centre, satellite clinic etc., have been established in all seven districts. The upazila Health Complex has several Registered Physicians, Nurses, and paramedics and equipped with diagnostic facilities. There are medical colleges with hospitals and a general university in Sylhet. There are many colleges, technical and religious institutions have been developed in all districts. Schools in every village, secondary schools and colleges in upazila towns, growth centers and advanced villages are built up. There are 41-educational institutions (school/college), 30 religious institution and six (6) health clinic/ hospitals will be affected by the project.

6. Archaeological, Historical Treasures and Tourism:

235. No declared protected antiquities/physical cultural heritage sites or objects under Bangladesh Antiquities act, 1968, is located along the road or within the COI. No nationally protected ancient object /site will be affected by the project. However, there many sightseeing itineraries in the seven districts to attract both local and tourists. The main tourist attractions in Narayaganj are Sunargaon, the ancient capital of , Muslim rulers and governors of eastern Bengal and the Goaldi mosque in Sonargaon. Many renowned mosques and the tomb of Shah Monsur at Kumardi are located at village Ashraffpur in Narsingdi. There are many tourist places in Brahmanbaria district as well, such as Twin Graves, Arphannesa mosque, Arphail Sagardighi mosque and Bhadurghar Shahi mosque (masjid) and ancient temples (mondir) such as, Kalbhairab mondir, Satidaha mondir, Shiva mondir, Sarvadharma Samanya mondir. In Kishoreganj district, the famous tourist sites are Pagla mosque, Shohidi mosque,

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House of Isha Kha, Junglebari fort (fifteenth century), Egaroshindhur fort (fifteenth century), etc. The poet Chandrabati’s Shiv Temple is also located within this district. In Habiganj, ancient Rajbari at Puranbagh, Champaboti tomb, Bagala matar mondir, Kalibari, Dorga-tila, Mira-tila and Tangee-tila, Foltoli-tila and water fountain, Kuri-tila, Black-stone and an Ancient Rajbari, Rashidpur and Teliapara tea gardens, Shajeerbazar, Sham-baoul Akhra, Bikhangal Akhra and Doulotpur Akhra, Shagor and Ranir Dighis, War Monument and War of Liberation Mass Grave, etc. The tourist places in Maulvibazar are Madhabkunda hill and water fall, Hakaluki Haor, Madhobpur Lake' and Bilashchhara Lake', '' in Kamalganj upazilla, the shrine of Shah Mustafa, a companion of Shah Jalal (R ) etc. In Sylhet, the tourist attractions include the Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal, Shah Paran, more than 500 years old Temple of Sri Chaitanya Dev, and the Srimongal which are lush green velvet carpet covering the mountains owing to the tea-plantations. The famous waterfall in Jaflon is located about 70 km from end point of the project road in Sylhet city. The project will not impact of any of these tourist attractions.

7. Human Settlement within the RoW:

236. According to the draft Resettlement Plan6, 9,286 structures will be affected by the project implementation, out of which 8,905 structures are privately owned, 302 are Common Property Resources (CPRs), 56 are government offices, 21 structures are owned by RHD and 2 structures are owned by NGO/Association. Of the total affected structures, entities 7,355 will be physically displaced and require relocation. Total 582.51 ha of private land will need to be acquired as per the detail design of the highway.

237. About 7,355 households will be physically displaced from residential and commercial land of which 4,679 titled holders, 2,060 non-titled holders and 340 encroachers. Apart from this, 276 are CPR and other Government non-Government offices. The survey indicates that 6,845 tenants, 8,887 business/shops and 8,248 wage labourers will be affected by the project interventions. The project will also impact on 1,195 Vulnerable Households, 259,670 Trees. Total number of Project Affected Persons is 55,454. Table 31.

Table 31: Affected Persons, HHs and Other Entities by the Project

Sl. No. Project Impacts Unit/Quantity

Amount of Land to be Acquired (acre) 1,439.41 A Number of Titled Households 4,679

Total number of Affected Households/Units/Entities 9,286

Number of Affected Households 8,905

Number of Affected Common Property Resources 302 B Number of Affected Govt. Structures 56

Number of Affected RHD structures 21

Number of Affected NGO/ Association etc. 2

6 Draft Resettlement Plan is prepared based on the preliminary design of the widened width of service road length on both sides of the carriageway.

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Sl. No. Project Impacts Unit/Quantity

Number of Affected Households/Units/Entities requiring 7,355 relocation

C Number of Households requiring relocation 7,079

Number of Affected Common Property Resources, Govt. 276 Offices and NGO/Association etc.

Number of Titled households losing Residential, Residential- cum-Commercial and Commercial structures requiring 4,679 relocation

D Number of Non-Titled losing Residential, Residential-cum- 2,060 Commercial and Commercial structures requiring relocation

Number of Encroacher requiring relocation 488

Number of households losing Primary Structures and trees 1,826 but no relocation required E Number of households losing Secondary Structures and no 42 relocation required

Total number of Project Affected Persons 55,454

Number of Affected Persons from HHs 40,361 F Number of Affected Tenants 6,845

Number of Affected Employee 8,248

G Number of Affected Business/Shops 8,887

H Number of Affected Vulnerable Households 1,195

I Number of Affected Trees 259,670

Source: Draft RP, May 2021

238. A total 9,286 structures will be affected due to project implementation, out of which 3,252 residential, 5,063 commercial, 548 residential cum commercial and 42 household only losing secondary structures. Apart from these, 302 CPRs, 56 Government offices, 21 RHD structures and 2 NGO/ Association etc. will be affected due to project implementation. Package- wise detailed affected households/units are presented in Table 32.

Table 32: Distribution of Affected Structures/Units under 13 Packages

Residenti RHD NGO/ Packag Residenti al- cum- Commerci No. of No. of Govt. structur Associati Total e al Commerci al CPRs offices es on etc. al

DS-1 191 53 1,159 45 5 4 - 1,467

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Residenti RHD NGO/ Packag Residenti al- cum- Commerci No. of No. of Govt. structur Associati Total e al Commerci al CPRs offices es on etc. al

DS-2 258 107 836 45 8 3 2 1,262

DS-3 336 129 1,005 43 12 1 - 1,528

DS-4 101 17 216 16 3 - - 353

DS-5 650 50 425 22 2 3 - 1,156

DS-6 265 22 151 7 3 - - 448

DS-7 188 27 153 8 8 1 - 385

DS-8 313 29 140 15 2 - - 501

DS-9 232 36 344 42 2 - - 657

DS-10 319 23 104 12 5 3 - 470

DS-11 195 38 370 33 5 4 - 651

DS-12 204 17 160 14 1 2 - 408

Total 3,252 548 5,063 302 56 21 2 9,286

Source: Draft RP, May 2021

8. Socio-cultural Features:

239. The socio-cultural features include the educational institutions, hospitals/health centres, religious structures, cultural structures, burial grounds, cremation yards, auditorium, market places, water bodies, over head tank (OHT), community hand pumps, well, public toilets, shed etc., likely to be affected directly and indirectly through implementation of the project. Such features could be termed as CPRs in relation to project activities and, hence, need to be dealt carefully during the construction phase. Locations of major CPRs along the road alignment are separately annexed as Annex 9.

9. Transport and Communication:

240. The project areas are connected with national highways, village roads, and railways in certain locations. The common types of transport are bus, truck, microbus, car, CNG, motorcycle, van and rickshaw. Mobile and wire telephone services are available in most of the areas. During the field survey, it is found that there are many locations which are prone to accidents particularly road crossings in the alignment which connect adjacent villages to the highway.

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