World Bank Country Director Abdoulaye Seck called on Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at the latter's Setu Bhaban office in the city on Wednesday — Focus Bangla Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has expressed his dissatisfaction at the progress of the World Bank-financed road safety project, saying it is the first priority project for inability to reduce road accidents.
"I've personally taken this (road safety) project as the first priority project… will monitor it and take a role as supervisor," he told journalists after a delegation of the World Bank led by its Country Director Abdoulaye Seck called on him at his office in Setu Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Directing his ministry's secretaries to expedite the process of starting implementation of Tk 49.88 billion project, Obaidul Quader said though steps have been taken up after the WB sought cooperation for implementation of agencies to be involved in the project.
He reiterated fading up of some successes in infrastructure development like flyover, Padma Bridge, metro rail etc for the reason of inability to ensure road safety.
As the road safety project officially launched in June last year needs multi-agencies involvement, including the Roads and Highways Department, the Bangladesh Police, the highway police and the Director General Health Service, the minister told journalists that he has directed the authorities to organise a coordination meeting soon in order to ensure safety in roads.
He said the multitask project will set up call centres, ambulance service, procure 60 ambulances, 40 motorcycle ambulance, medical equipment, petrol motorcycles, crash database, system development, emergency rescue operation, professional driver training centre, implementation of integrated traffic management and incident detection system.
Besides, modernisation of hospital's trauma centre at Dhaka Mugda Hospital, Tangail and Bogura will also be carried out.
Replying to a query on the WB return in the road transport sector after fund withdrawal from the Padma Bridge, Obaidul Quader, also general secretary of the ruling Awami league, said the project was taken after discussion on all these issues, including corruption, as none will be spared for grafts.
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