Chief Advisor calls for development of improved communication network without harming environment

Chief Advisor to the Interim Government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has called for accelerating the integrated development of roads, railways, air and waterways, keeping nature, environment and rivers free from negative impacts.
He made this call at the inter-ministerial meeting on the mid-term evaluation and strategic planning of the ‘Central Integrated Multipurpose Transport Sector Master Plan of Bangladesh’ at the State Guest House Jamuna today, Sunday (November 2).
The Chief Advisor said in the meeting, our communication system is in a very bad condition, if it is not disciplined quickly, then the entire system will become a trap for the economy. He said, we have to do this work without harming the environment. No harm can be done to the river, the water must be kept calm, it must be remembered that water is a great resource for us.
In the meeting, the Roads and Highways Department presented a preliminary strategic plan, which was prepared on the basis of mutual coordination by officials of the concerned ministries. This plan shows how the entire communication system can be streamlined by coordinating all types of communication systems in the entire country and making minor reforms and additions as needed.
It states that if the existing railways, waterways and roads in the country are properly utilized and in some cases expanded, massive progress is possible in this field. Thanking those concerned for preparing the plan by coordinating all the systems in the communication sector, the Chief Advisor said that this plan has initially yielded a strong idea. Now effective initiatives have to be taken to implement it.
He said that the entire plan should be prepared keeping in mind economic prosperity. Along with internal planning, emphasis should also be placed on regional and global communication systems. When we think of rivers as a means of communication, we have to remember that rivers are our lifeblood, the Chief Advisor further mentioned.
In a discussion on the initial plan, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Dr. Sheikh Moinuddin said that an attempt is being made to establish a comprehensive model in the field of communication. Work is being done to develop the economic lifeline.
Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud said that in cases where it is possible to bring the entire region under national connectivity by building small roads, plans should be formulated quickly. Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud said that the ministry has taken the initiative to form a planning unit in the Local Government Department to further plan the work of the Local Government Department.
BIDA Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury said that three more new ports will be launched in Chittagong by 2030. Keeping this in mind, quick initiatives should be taken to make road connectivity from these ports easy and effective.