Quader seeks more time

The communications minister has said a few more months will be needed to "completely eradicate the people's sufferings" on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

Chittagong Bureaubdnews24.com
Published : 13 July 2014, 12:22 PM
Updated : 13 July 2014, 03:02 PM

While visiting the road at Sitakunda on Sunday, Obaidul Quader ordered his ministry to keep the key highway in operation during the Eid-ul-Fitr.

Quader's visit comes two days after an organisation of transport owners threatened to go on a strike if Dhaka-Chittagong highway repair works were not completed soon.

He said the stretch of the highway from Sitakunda to Chittagong was causing the problem for the commuters.
The minister said widening the highway was a "very difficult" task as there were many mosques, temples, graveyards and educational institutions along the road.
Those "problems" have been solved and the works on the highway were on, he said.
On Friday, the government banned movements of heavy cargo -- except garments, fuel and perishables -- on roads three days prior to Eid and two days after it.
Quader hoped the Dhaka-Chittagong highway repair work would be completed within five to seven months.
About the work, he said a Chinese company had been entrusted with the job in seven packages.
"At times, it slows down its work pace and does not want to work on existing roads despite a contract.
"That's why we're having this work done by an alternative contractor," he said.
However, the minister hoped 21,500 km roads across Bangladesh would be repaired by July 20.
"I won't accept any excuse," Quader said, warning that those neglecting the work would be punished.
He urged the media not to create panic about the state of the highways ahead of the Eid.
"It will put pressure on the railway which is incapable of managing the pressure.
"That's why we have to tackle the pressure with the help of both the railway and roads," he said.