Sangsad Bhaban – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that the government has issued a 29-point directive to make people’s journeys on highways during Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr safe and comfortable. UNB news agency reported
The directives include repairing the highways, keeping the national and regional highways free from congestion, maintaining discipline in bus terminals, now allowing parking everywhere, keeping CNG stations open round the clock, stopping plying three-wheelers on 22 national highways, special BRTC bus service and increasing the number of ferries, she said.
The Prime Minister said this while responding to a question from MA Awal (Laxmipur-1) during her question-answer session in Parliament.
Hasina said garment owners have been asked to arrange eid vacation and reopen their factories after eid alternatively so that pressure is not created on public transport during the eid journeys.
Replying to another question from M Abdullah (Laxmipur-4), she said the government has taken a project to introduce electronic passport (e-passport) to cope with the global pace and ensure the convenience of people.
“Immigration and Passport Department has formulated a DPP in this connection and the process to introduce e-passport will be taken after getting Ecnec nod,” she said.
Answering to a question from Mir Mostaq Ahmed Robi (Satkhira-2), Hasina said a vested quarter is misleading people through baseless, imaginary and fabricated information in the print and electronic media regarding the Rampal’s coal-based power plant.
Replying to M Monirul Islam (Jessore-5), the Prime Minister said 53 projects, including 46 investment and 7 technical ones involving Tk 97,623.47 crore, are being implemented in the Railway sector that would play a significant role in improving the railway communications along with changing the country’s socioeconomic condition.
She also mentioned that the government approved the Railway Master Plan on June 30, 2013 with in cooperation with Transport Sector Co-ordination (TSC) wing under the Planning Commission aimed at expanding the railway network, improving double line in some important corridors and modernizing it as a public mode of transport.
Under the master plan, 235 projects will be implemented in four phases at a cost of Taka 2,33,944 crore, Hasina told the House.
As part of modernization of the Bangladesh Railway, a process is underway for procuring 700 passenger coaches and 100 meter-gauge locomotives for the Railway to provide cheap, secure and comfortable service.
Besides, she said, the government has launched 106 new train services on various routes and expanded 30 since 2009.
Hasina said the government rehabilitated 1,091 kilometers of railway line, constructed 243 km new ones, while turned 249 km into dual gauge ones from meter gauge since 2009.
