The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) was created in 1962 when the old 'Construction & Building (C&B) organisation was split into 2 separate bodies (the other being Public Works Department). RHD is responsible for the construction and the maintenance of the major road and bridge network of Bangladesh.

Since the Department was established the size of the major road network in Bangladesh has grown from 2,500 kms to the present network of 20,866.36 kms.