hm-atif-wafik

Pro-People Budget to Be Presented in JS: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said today that the pro-people and welfare-oriented budget will be presented in the Jatiya Sangsad by giving the highest priority to people's lives and livelihoods, as the national budget for 2020-21 is scheduled to be presented tomorrow.

"By giving maximum priority to people's lives and livelihoods, the government will present the pro-people and welfare-oriented budget in the Jatiya Sangsad," he said while joining the agreement to sign the North Metro-Rail Route-5 ceremony between Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Company Ltd and Japanese Nippon Koei Co, Ltd via video conferencing from his official residence here.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito also joined the video conference.

Ignoring the statement made by BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir that the government did not receive any advice prior to the preparation of the budget, the AL leader said, "It is absolutely wrong."

Prior to the budget, Quader, also Secretary-General of the ruling Awami League, said that expert opinions, economists' experience, research, and party manifesto have been also taken into account.

Referring to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the minister said the Prime Minister is taking all the necessary decisions after consulting with the experts, adding that at the same time, views and advice of the participants also have been taken a long time before presenting the budget.

Regarding the government’s decision on imposing area-wise ‘lockdown’, he said the government will take strict measures if the corona infection is found to rise in the country.

Calling the people to follow the health guidelines, the AL leader said: “We have to follow all the decisions suggested by the Prime Minister to overcome the worst situation, otherwise the government will enforce strict measures if the corona infection rises in these areas where lockdown so far has not been imposed.”

Quader urged the people to follow the government decision with patience as the decision of imposing a fresh lockdown has been taken considering the people’s welfare.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina takes any decision after considering the opinions of all concerned, adding that “She [the Prime Minister ] usually takes decision after discussing with all inside the government and the party as well.”

He reiterated that only the ruling Awami League is used to practice democracy compared to other political parties in the country.

The Minister informed that the construction work of Prime Minister Sheik Hasina's most preferred multipurpose Padma Bridge is progressing by following all health guidelines amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Joining the metro-rail agreement signing program, the Minister of Road Transport said the government will build six metro-rail routes in the city by 2030 to reduce traffic congestion in the capital and its adjacent areas.

As part of the construction, the minister said the agreement has been signed for appointing the consultant as the consultant would supervise and make the design of a 20-kilometers metro-rail route from Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli-Mirpur-10-Kothukhet-Banani-Gulshan-2.

The newly constructed route would connect the eastern and west parts of the city –comprising 13 kilometers underground and 6.50 kilometers flyover.

The total cost for the construction of the road is almost Taka 41,000 crore — where the Japanese government will finance almost Taka 29,000 crore, he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister said that almost 45 percent of the metro-route-6 work from Uttara to Mothijheel has already been completed. A single-kilometer rail line and a 10-kilometer viaduct have also been installed on the route.

The agreement involving nearly Taka 1,600 crore was jointly signed by MAN Siddique, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, Acting Director of Japan Nippon Koei, Co, Ltd Ken Nisino and Oriental Consultants Global Company President Yonezawa.

Road Transport and Highway division secretary M Nazrul Islam, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) representative in Bangladesh, project directors of different metro-rail projects, engineers, officials, and representatives from consulting agencies, among others, joined the video conference.

Source: BSS

Subscribe Shampratik Deshkal Youtube Channel

Comments

Shampratik Deshkal Epaper

Logo

Address: 10/22 Iqbal Road, Block A, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207

© 2024 Shampratik Deshkal All Rights Reserved. Design & Developed By Root Soft Bangladesh