In this significant early contribution to development literature, Professor Dr. Abul Hasan M. Sadeq investigates the symbiotic relationship between rural transport networks and the economic vitality of agrarian societies. Specifically focusing on Bangladesh, the study demonstrates how physical connectivity serves as a lifeblood for rural economies, enabling small-scale farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

Professor Sadeq provides an empirical look at how improved rural roads and transport facilities reduce the "distance-cost" barrier, thereby increasing the farm-gate prices for produce and lowering the cost of essential inputs like fertilizers and seeds. The research emphasizes that rural transport is a prerequisite for social development, as it directly improves access to health services and educational institutions. This chapter argues that for a resource-poor nation like Bangladesh, the strategic prioritization of rural infrastructure is one of the most effective tools for broad-based poverty alleviation and achieving the "South Asian Horizon" of inclusive growth.

Core Concepts: Rural Development, Infrastructure Economics, Bangladesh Transport, Agrarian Growth, Poverty Alleviation, Market Integration, AUB.