Bangladesh Burma road link agreed

Bangladesh and Burma have signed a deal to construct the first major road between the two countries.

Officials hope that the 25km road, most of which will be inside Burma, will form part of an Asian super highway to boost trade.

Bangladesh has agreed to fund the road building project.

The Burmese Minister for construction who signed the deal in Delhi said he hoped the project would eventually connect India, Thailand and China.

Most of the road connecting the area of Maricha in Bangladesh to Bawlibazar in Burma, will be inside Burma, with only about 2km in Bangladesh.

"This is going to be a milestone in our bilateral relations," Bangladesh Communications Adviser Maj-Gen MA Matin told reporters after the signing of the agreement.

He said that Bangladesh had earlier discussed Chinese involvement in the project and had got a positive response from them.