Quader asks for more time

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader has said it will take another "one or two days" to fix roads and highways ahead of Eid after his self-imposed deadline expired.

The minister said on Monday that the government had already finished almost 80 percent of the promised repairs.

He said this at Dhaka's Maghbazar while on a spot-survey of the traffic situation there.

"We have successfully completed 80 percent of the work. Immediate action has been taken against those found shirking their duty," he said.

At an inter-ministerial meeting on July 11, Quader had ordered the repairs of all roads and highways within July 20.

Asked about this deadline, Quader said, "The entire volume of work cannot be completed in seven days. No one is sitting idle. We'll have to make do with what we have."

The minister said the problems created by a series of expansion projects and related repair work on several highways would not be there next year.

Quader criticised some of the media reports on the state of the roads.

"Some papers are printing four-year old photos of roads. I won't protest. I pray that Allah gives them wisdom," he said.

After inspecting the jammed and slushy Maghbazar intersection, the minister said the traffic situation in Jatrabari had improved, but Maghbazar needed further improvements.