Stay alert to avert road accidents
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for introducing education on traffic rules and regulations at the school level.
“Students should know which sides of the roads will have to be taken to move,” she said while addressing a programme through videoconferencing from the Gono Bhaban.
The event was organised marking the opening of 1.2-km Bhulta Flyover on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, Patia bypass road on Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway, Satkhira town bypass road, Aldi Bazar Bridge, and Banar Bridge on Mymensingh-Gafargaon-Toak district highway, reports BSS.
Hasina urged all, including the drivers and pedestrians, to be responsible in using roads to avoid accidents.
She said it would not be wise to hold only the drivers responsible for road accidents. Everyone, including the drivers and road users, should have awareness of driving vehicles and crossing streets, the PM added.
Referring to the law regarding road safety, she said everyone should follow the traffic rules and regulations.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also addressed the programme, moderated by PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman.
Hasina exchanged views with local lawmakers, administrative officers and distinguished personalities of Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Satkhira, Chattogram and Mymensingh through videoconferencing.
‘Railway to be made profitable sector’
Meanwhile, speaking at another programme at the Gono Bhaban, Hasina yesterday vowed to make the railway a profitable sector, reports UNB.
“We want to show those who once wanted to shut down non-profitable rail routes that these can be made profitable and modernised,” she said.
The premier made the pledge while flagging off the intercity train “Kurigram Express” on the Kurigram-Dhaka-Kurigram route and launching the newly-imported coaches of Rangpur Express and Lalmoni Express through videoconferencing.
She said the government was working to bring the whole country under railway network.
Hasina said the railway is most popular among the common and middle-class people, but the former BNP government had planned to shut down rail routes following suggestions of international organisations saying that those were not profitable.
“I think it was a suicidal decision for our country because the common people choose rail for their communication. It’s essential for a country to have rail, water, air and road transport system.”
The PM said her government has been implementing a massive programme to spread railway connectivity to every division, including Barishal.
The government would extend the railway network to Barishal, Mongla in Bagerhat, and Payra Port in Patuakhali, Hasina said.
Later, she exchanged views with locals from Kurigram, Rangpur and Lalmonirhat through videoconferencing.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed were present.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan also spoke at the programme from Kurigram through videoconferencing.
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