Wrong-side driving: Quader urges ministers, MPs to be patient

Obaidul Quader has urged VIPs to change their mindset along with the common people in order to free the roads from traffic congestions.

“We, ministers and MPs, don’t have patience when we see traffic and we take the wrong lane,” the road transport and bridges minister said during a discussion on the proposal for cuts in fund allocation sought for on Thursday.

“VIPs should look into the matter. If we advise general people to follow law, we should also follow it ourselves,” he added.

A military vehicle avoiding traffic by driving on the wrong side of the road in front of Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka goes completely unchallenged. Photo: tanvir ahammed/ bdnews24.com

Speaking about traffic jams, he recalled how he returned after a visit to landslide-ravaged Rangamati on the Eid day on Monday.

“It was midnight. The road was empty. But I got caught in jam at Kanchpur for 40 minutes…it was an eight-lane road! No one shows patience at the entrance to Dhaka. Passengers pressure the drivers to hurry. The drivers also try to make more trips,” Quader said.

“Traffic congestions won’t go away if we do not change our mindset,” he added.

Earlier during the discussion, opposition Jatiya Party MP Nurul Islam Milon said the government should ensure safe travel alongside making new roads, and take special measures to ease traffic congestions.

He recommended putting an 80-kilometre speed limit on highways.

“The owners encourage reckless driving for extra profit. I’ve noticed that some minister heads the owners’ association. Workers’ association president too is a minister. How will it work?” he wondered.

Independent MP Rustum Ali Faraji said, “We have a worthy minister in this department (road)! Roads are damaged fast after being built. This issue should be addressed. It takes Tk 2.5 million to Tk 10 million to build a one-kilometre stretch of road. It would be better if the minister instructs the engineers on this matter.”  

Jatiya Party’s Fakhrul Imam said, “The people are questioning the rise in Padma Bridge construction cost from Tk 80 billion to Tk 280 billion.”

In reaction to the criticisms, Quader said, “Critics are my great friends, if they criticise constructively. And bootlickers are my greatest enemies. They tell me that everything is alright. Actually I am not always right. There must be mistakes which we can correct.”

Noting that the annual development budget for roads has risen from Tk 10 billion in 2008 to Tk 170 billion now, he said, “There is no way to deny that there are some irregularities.”