Weather | Dhaka 
Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina speaks at the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday. Photo: PIDPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government plans to construct elevated and underground railways, flyovers, orbital waterways, and circular roads in and around the capital to ease traffic congestion and to solve transport problems.
Replying to lawmakers' queries in the parliament, the premier said the government took up a project to upgrade Zia International Airport, construction of a bridge linking the Aarong point at Tejgaon and the Gulshan Shooting Club point, and a coordinated development project in Hatirjheel area.
She said the government also took steps to keep the Buriganga river and its adjacent lands free from encroachment.
For reducing the problems caused by air pollution in the capital, the government took measures to gradually remove from roads automobiles aged over 20 years.
"The program for increasing the number of buses to carry large numbers of passengers is now at the final stage. Numbers of three wheelers and other small transports will gradually be reduced," she said.
The premier said the activities of mobile courts will continue, and bus bays and parking spots will be designated in the city.
About climate change, she reiterated the demand for formation of an international fund to overcome the fallout. The premier urged the people of the country to be aware of the possible effects of the climate change.
Speaking on the tourism sector, the prime minister said her government wants to open up entire Bangladesh for tourists, as all parts of the country are beautiful.
"We are examining whether a regional tourism network can be built comprising Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan," she said.
Replying to queries on persons with disabilities, the premier urged all to be sympathetic to them. She said her government is sincere to ensure their rights and to create suitable environment for them at workplaces.
She said steps could be taken, so financially poor persons with disabilities may ride on public transports for free.
The premier said her government took various measures for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
"We have planned construction of training centres in each district for persons with disabilities. Besides, the government is also considering setting up specialised schools at district levels for disabled and autistic children," Hasina, also the leader of the parliament, said.
Replying to another query, the premier said her government will conduct a survey in the Sundarban area for exploration of gas, and if gas is found that will be supplied to Khulna area.
Share on
Today's Paper
the electronic copy of the print edition with the power of web!
- advertisement
Building a profile lets you access all the services
profile
RSS Feed updates you with the latest news
Rss
Listen to latest news and interviews
Podcast
Subscribe and get latest updates in your inbox
News Mail
Share videos and images you have witnessed and captured
Witness
Give us your story ideas
Story Idea
Thursday, October 29, 2009 03:23 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
This is the best news I ever heard. Thank you The Daily Star..
Thursday, October 29, 2009 03:30 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
We have always heard these things. We had a lot of dream sketching announcements. I think this is enough. I want to see some steps and not the loud 'chiking' voice.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 06:38 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
PM please do something for the people hurriedly. Our trust level is very low. Please make initiatives to improve the level.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 08:14 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
When will it be implemented? It is not new for our leaders to speak high on plans an hide when the time comes for implementation.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 08:46 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
Thanks and grateful to the honorable prime minister for delivering and confirming many people's supportive pragmatic development programme. We expect fast implementations of these development programmes to mitigate long people's sufferings.
We are surprised why the people of Khulna should have to wait to for gas supply until gas is found in sundarbon areas. Khulna people had seen a kindle of light at the end of the tunnel while the immediate past caretaker government established sundonbon gas company to expedite the gas supply in Khulna region. While north, south east , sylhet , borga, rajshahi are economically benefited and fortunate with supply of natural gas and are being developed in all respect, on the other hand, the people of Khulna has been struggling long to have the equal share of natural gas for development. Due to lack of poor planning and step motherly attitude, this part of the country has been lagging behind, and disparity is more visible and distinct while the economic growth was better in the past.
We expect, the present democratic government would immediately arrange gas supply project allocating adequate funds without further delay through pipeline crossing jumuna bridge or from bhola.
Khulna has suffered long and in the verge of converting dead city, we hope to have better collaboration and support from all corners of the government. Due to lack of political commitment, lack of farsightedness, support, leadership and proper and strong representation, in the central government, sufferings of the people of Khulna knows no bounds.
The gas supply project should move fast and we hope the honorable prime minister would kindly interfere to solve many problems of Khulna, like up gradation of medical collage to 500 beds, airport, 250 beds Abu Nasar specialized hospital textile collage, revitalization of industries , establishment of new industries, electricity problems, Regional TV station, tourism expansion and ensuring optimum use of Mongla port and many more to keep pace with other region. The people of Khulna are really unfortunate. We expect evenly development of all regional head quarter in best possible ways but not with prerogative decision , we experienced in the past.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 10:33 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
Thanks PM to give her nice delivery about her's govtment some welfare plan for the general people.This is very important to take immediate initiatives to make dhake city appropriatr for living. PM realized the real problems butwe think all her cabinet members does not realize the truth.
This is very important to realize the problems to all not only the govtment but also all the party men and concern authority and people.It is only possible to built up a untodate Bangladesh with the help of all.
We want to take attention to PM please realize the public emotion. Besides these plan your govment should take proper initiatives to reduc the corruption in all sectors and also reduce the terrorist activities agians those persons related to her party or others.
People want to see the works and want to live in peace.
We also want take attention to PM for current important issue of time.Because the present time cause the much problems for all. The govment should consider the matter.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 02:14 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
All talk and no action makes Bangladesh politics very dull. Every government promises a sky train system and to ease traffic but never delivers. They are too busy making personal fortunes.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:44 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
Whatever planning is done, please keep in mind the context of the country. Even many of the more developed nations do not have elevated/underground railways,orbital waterways and circular roads. We are talking about a country where people are deprived from education, food and shelter. The existing laws should be reinforced and people should have the mind to comply with them. Infratructure development is important but one also has to be careful in using such jargons which majority of the people will not even understand! Priority must be set.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 01:31 PM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
The projects taken are very necessary to be implemented immediately.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:40 AM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
It is very easy to pledge but as we know from our experience all are fake. Nothing to be done by lier Sheikh Hasina. (Saying this from a depressed heart)
Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:15 PM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
It is sound good to hear from the premier to take some plans to ease air pollution and traffic congestion from Dhaka city. Actually all the immediate past government also thought about the betterment and accelerating amenities in the capital city ignoring all others. Now the premier wants to conduct a survey on Natural Gas exploration in the Sundarban area which is very good. But it is so unfortunate that the government has not taken any initiative to re-construction the breached embankments (BERI Badh) after hitting cyclone AYLA in Koyra, Dacope, Symnagar and Mongla upazilla in Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts respectively. People have been suffering a lot by intrusion of saline water since then. They want to repair those breached embankment not Natural Gas now.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:43 PM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
The Prime Minister has introduced her govt's communication development plan, it would be good for the city dwelars, but at this moment what is urgently required & necessary is to take immediate steps to control the Capital's traffic system. It has been noticed that the Metropolitan Police has totally failed to control the traffic systems. At the main main intersection of the capital only one or two (one Ansar and one traffic persons were managing the congested traffic jams during the last Eid and Durga Puja. No accountable and responsible Traffic Seargents and Constables were found in the whole Dhaka City. Only before the movements of VVIPs/ VIPs heavy traffic contingents are found on the particulars roads. Rest of the days what the Traffic Sergents and DC Traffic and other officers doing? It is the responsibilities of the DC Traffic to place before the Home Ministry a Master Plan to Control and improve the On going Traffic Havoc in the Capital City. A country is running witout following Traffic Singals by the motorists. It is funny and unexceptable for the rest of the world. It only undermines our country's prestige and fame. I don't know whether the DC Traffic has ever under taken any program to improve the on going traffic crisis. He should have undertaken steps in collaboration with the City Corporation and other related organizations at least to start a Coordinated and well Planned Traffic Control Management Program. The government should sanction necessary monetary requirements to meet the requiremnts of the Traffic Control Department on urgent basis. Government should give utmost top priority on the immediate solution to the outstanding long term Dhaka's Traffic crisis. This is the main problem at the moment for the Capital City Dhaka i think.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:57 PM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
All these things are obviously very good.But it will b better, if most of them can be implemented.It will b worst ,these can't be materialized within the projected time.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 03:22 PM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
Thanks,it will be real digital plan
for general people in Bangladesh.
We want it's implementation as soon as possible.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 09:51 PM GMT+06:00 (4 weeks ago)
We have been listening too many plans for a long time but no step is taken yet.
Even traffic signals do not work, how can you talk about future plans without correcting basic things?