Tk 69,417cr earmarked for communications infrastructure

Mohammad Zakaria

The government has proposed to allocate Tk 69,417 crore for the transport and communications sector for the upcoming fiscal 2021-22 for ensuring modern, safe, sustainable and environment-friendly commuting.

However, the allocations for these sectors were Tk 61,447 crore for the budget fiscal 2020-21.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday placed the proposed national budget Tk 603,681 crore in parliament with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

In the budget speech, the minister said, “Our government has been working relentlessly to build an integrated domestic and international communication network through continuous and integrated investment in roads, bridges, railways, waterways and airways.”

The government is working to build a modern and sustainable highway network. In tandem with this, implementation of road safety measures, introduction of high-speed public transport system (MRT and BRT) to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka city and modernisation of vehicle management is underway, he added.