Don't allow overloaded vehicles on roads

Stressing the importance of properly maintaining the country's roads and highways, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the authorities concerned to strictly monitor so that overloaded trucks and other vehicles cannot ply the roads.

She gave the directive while inaugurating some development projects through a videoconferencing from her official residence Gono Bhaban in the capital.

The projects are a 16km four-lane highway in Rangpur city, 10.50km Birulia-Ashulia highway and Birulia Bridge in Dhaka and Thanchi-Alikadam road in Bandarban district.

The prime minister said steps have been taken to upgrade other highways, including Dhaka-Mymensingh highway,  to four-lane ones.

While talking to Bandarban Deputy Commissioner's office through the videoconferencing, Hasina said construction of Thanchi-Alikadam Highway might have not been possible had the Bangladesh Army not been involved in the project as it has been built in one of the most remote, highest height and hilly areas of the country.

She hoped that the Thanchi-Alikadam road will play a very significant role in easing road communications and transportation of local products.

Speaking to Rangpur DC office also through videoconferencing, the prime minister urged the people to monitor the ongoing development activities across the country so that these are accomplished properly.

Meanwhile, Hasina said Eid holidaymakers might have been able to go home enjoying better comfort during the Eid-ul-Fitr had the BNP-Jamaat alliance not burned

buses, destroyed railway compartments and damaged the railway in the name of a movement.

"If they (BNP-Jamaat men) had not burned the buses, destroyed railway compartments and damaged the railway, people might have been able to go to their homes more conveniently," she said.

Hasina made the remarks while inaugurating newly constructed state-of-the-art passenger ship "MV Madhumati" and two newly-built ferries of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) through another videoconferencing from Gono Bhaban.

The newly built 75.50-meter long and 12.50-meter wide vessel is capable of accommodating 750 passengers, and has been constructed at a cost of Tk 26.58 crore by Western Marine Shipyard.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said it was very much regretful that some days ago in the name of the movement BNP-Jamaat burnt buses and trucks. "They set fire to railway compartments…even launches couldn't escape their destructive hands," she said.

Hasina said the attack on the launches was first time in Bangladesh's history.  "BNP-Jamaat can only commit such destructive activities." She also said the losses of various sectors during the BNP-Jamaat movement cannot be described in words.

She mentioned that steps have been taken to introduce new ships and steamers to further improve the shipping sector.