CA calls for geen transport system
Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged all concerned to accelerate the development of an integrated transport system encompassing road, rail, air, and waterways – without causing harm to nature, the environment, or rivers.
He made the call while chairing an inter-ministerial meeting on the “Central Integrated Multimodal Transport Sector Master Plan of Bangladesh” at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Sunday, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. The meeting focused on the final assessment and strategic direction of the national transport master plan.
Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, Road Transport, Bridges and Railways adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, among others, were present on the occasion.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Road Transport and Railways ministries Dr Sheikh Moinuddin; Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun; and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Posts, Telecommunications and ICT ministry Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb along with secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries were also present.
“Our communication system is currently in a chaotic state,” the Chief Adviser said. “If we fail to bring discipline soon, the entire network will become a noose around the neck of the economy.”
He emphasised that infrastructural development must not damage the environment.
“We must not harm our rivers or disturb their flow. Water must be kept calm – it is one of our greatest assets,” he noted.
During the meeting, the Roads and Highways Department presented a preliminary strategic plan prepared through inter-ministerial coordination.
The plan outlines how to bring all modes of transport under an integrated and efficient system through modest reform and expansion where necessary.
It suggests that better utilisation and moderate expansion of existing rail, waterway, and road networks could yield significant improvements.
Commending the coordinated effort, the Chief Adviser said the plan offers a strong foundation and now needs to be translated into effective action.
“The entire strategy must prioritise economic growth while also considering regional and global connectivity,” he added.
“When we think of rivers as part of our transport system, we must remember – they are our lifelines,” Prof Yunus reminded participants.
Dr Sheikh Moinuddin said efforts are underway to create a collective transport model that would establish a sustainable economic lifeline while planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud stressed identifying small road projects that could immediately bring remote areas into the national connectivity framework.
Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud mentioned that the ministry has decided to set up a dedicated “Planners’ Wing” to strengthen local-level infrastructure planning.
BIDA Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury added that three new ports are expected to open in Chattogram by 2030, and ensuring efficient and accessible road connectivity from these ports should be treated as a priority.