Quader orders completing road repair works before monsoon

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday instructed the authorities concerned to complete road repair works before the monsoon starts.

He came up with the directives while speaking at the 16th meeting of the governing council of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) at Sarak Bhaban in city’s Banani area.

Talking to the reporters after the meeting, Quader said: “During the monsoon, we see digging on roads. The construction works must be completed before the start of rainy season. City corporations should be informed before digging the roads. Those, who have projects, should also inform the city corporations”.

Instead of bricks, blocks must be used in development projects as the block is an environment friendly one, he said.

Asking Dhaka City Corporations to take an integrated plan to stop pollution in the capital, Quader said a committee, led by the LGRD minister, has been formed to coordinate the development of the roads and highways sector.

Four bus terminals will be constructed so that buses are not parked on roads, he added.

The road transport and bridges minister said discipline must be brought in transport sector. No matter mega projects like Padma Bridge and flyovers are completed, those developments will be tainted if there is no discipline, he added.

Quader, also the Awami League General Secretary, said the development of Bangladesh is a surprise in the world today, so discipline must be brought on roads and highways soon.

He said there is no alternative to create awareness among people to bring discipline on roads.

Chaired by Obaidul Quader, the meeting was attended, among others, by Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam, Dhaka South City Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash and Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri.

People want fall of BNP's leadership

Obaidul Quader said the country's people do not want to see the fall of the incumbent government rather they want the fall of BNP's leadership.

"Fakhrul Saheb, do you remember when the BNP's council was held? You failed in movement and elections as well. BNP leaders from top to bottom should resign immediately," he said replying to questions from journalists.

Claiming that there is no practice of democracy in BNP, he said the AL's national council is held every three years, while its secretary-level meeting is held each month and the extended meeting of AL's district units is held every six months.