Transport plays a strategic role in poverty reduction by supporting economic growth (a policy task). Ccomplements most poverty-targeted interventions by facilitating access to employment and income generation, administration, health, education and various other social and economic activities (a planning task). Poor farmers not produces cash crops, if there is no access road to markets. Schools and health centers remain under-attended if access road is not provided. Participation of the poor in formal labour markets is low and those living in remote or isolated areas. Those labours remain trapped in poverty, if access to transport is not provided.  Also, increased access to transport contributes to improve the conditions of participation by the poor in the system of governance particularly at the sub-national level.

An efficient transportation system is essential to facilitate economic growth in Bangladesh. The country’s economy needs to grow at a sustained 7% per year to achieve the first goal of the MDGs. That of halving the proportion of people living under a dollar per day by 2015. To achieve this growth, transport sector needs to reduce costs and allocate resources among different modes of transport in a more balanced manner.