Quader tells RHD to finish 44km on priority basis

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FE Report Communications Minister Obaidul Quader has directed the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to complete at least some parts of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway four-lane project to make the development work of the government visible among people. He asked the officials concerned to finish 44 kilometres of the road in Daudkandi and Feni on priority basis. "The government has already completed three years of its tenure. So it is now time to make the development works visible," the new communications minister said while speaking to the RHD officials and employees at Sarak Bhaban Sunday. The minister, as part of his introductory meetings with the ministry's different agencies, visited Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) and RHD Sunday and shared the government's new stands. Obaidul Quader told the reporters at BBA that the project of Padma Bridge would soon start under public-private partnership as announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During the meeting with BBA, the minister directed the officials to start the project work to finish the Padma Bridge in the shortest possible time to fulfil the election pledge of the government. At RHD, the minister said the government now prioritises reviving the standard of the existing damaged roads, and not constructing new ones, for keeping the road communication of the country undisturbed. "We will continue our utmost efforts to reduce people's sufferings by repairing the damaged roads," the new minister said. He also announced to resume operation of the Axle load machine on December 17 to control overloaded transports on the country's main economic corridor of Dhaka-Chittagong highway to keep the road communication uninterrupted by saving the bridges. The minister asked both the officials and employees of RHD and BBA to work in teams at all stages with commitment and sincerity to complete the works in time.