Sustainable freight transport strategy to be finalised soon
A daylong national consultation workshop on strategy for sustainable freight transport in Bangladesh was organised jointly by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific held virtually yesterday (18 May 2022).
The workshop agreed that the draft strategy on sustainable freight transport would be finalised soon.
Anisur Rahman, joint secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges opened the workshop and welcomed the initiative of the UN ESCAP for organising the national consultation on sustainable freight transport.
He further appreciated the draft of the strategy prepared by the UN ESCAP for consultations and highlighted the need for increasing the role of railway transport in Bangladesh.
Azhar Jaimurzina Ducrest, chief of the UN ESCAP's Transport Connectivity and Logistics Section of the Transport Division assured the participants that UN ESCAP would render necessary technical assistance in implementing the strategy for sustainable freight transport in Bangladesh.
ESCAP official Sandeep Raj Jain elaborated on the sustainable freight transport strategy 2030.
Explaining on the rationale for strategy on sustainable freight transport, he said, it would help Bangladesh to provide coherence to sustainable freight transport measures that are currently fragmented and scattered.
The strategy would help implement Bangladesh's international obligations particularly- the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, he added.
The draft strategy has identified nine strategic thrust areas. These are: Transforming Bangladesh into a transport and logistics hub for South and Southeast Asia; Enhancing the sustainability of road freight transport; Digitalising and decarbonising Bangladesh Railways; Strengthening inland water transport in Bangladesh; Reducing transport logistics cost in Bangladesh; Addressing urban freight transport challenges; Developing a green transport corridor between Dhaka and Chattogram; Building resilience of transport infrastructure to climate change impacts; and Expanding the role of women in Bangladesh's freight transport sector.
It also identified five enablers that would help implement strategy includes strengthening of governance for sustainable freight transport, building capacity of transport policy makers, promoting transformative transport technologies, encouraging private sector participation, and diversifying funding source for sustainable freight transport.
Representatives from the Ministry of Transport of China and China Water Borne Transportation Institute attended the event and shared their experiences about their relevant sectors.
The representative of the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD) provides suggestions for digitalisation of railway transport in Bangladesh and representative from CINEC campus, Sri Lanka shared experience for enhancing the role of women in freight transport.
The President of the Infrastructure Economic Centre based in Paris explained how the understanding of freight flows post-pandemic would become an important component for appropriate planning and investments in transport infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Representatives from Bangladesh Railways and relevant stakeholders took part at the event.
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