Tuesday 11 October 2011

Expansion of railway, waterways suggested


Different organisations on Tuesday requested the governmentfor adequate investment and quick expansion of railway and waterways as safercommunications network.
They also suggested reducing dependence on road transportsignificantly and modernising the railway and waterways network as soon aspossible.

The recommendations were placed at a view-exchange meetingon 'Safe, Cheap and Sustainable Transport System : Importance and Measures tobe taken' held at the National Press Club. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA),Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), FamiliesUnited against Road Accident (FUARA) and WBD Trust jointly organised the viewexchange.


Mentioning a study report, Maruf Rahman, convener of WBDTrust and presenter of the keynote paper on the occasion, said once there was atotal of 24,000-kilometer waterways in Bangladesh, which had now shrunken to5,968-km only.
Of these, only 3,865-kilometer waterways are navigableduring dry season, he noted.
Other speakers at the function criticised the governmentmove of terminating 30,029 railway employees saying, railway service is moreefficient and cheap in carrying goods and less vulnerable to accident.


On the contrary, vast amount of agricultural land is beingdestroyed in road expansion project which is liable to create food shortage inthe country, they added.
Presided over by FUARA convener Iqram Ahmed, it wasaddressed by Professor AKM Abul Kalam, executive member of BAPA Muhidul IslamKhan and Professor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Nazrul Islam, amongothers.


Expansion of railway, waterways suggested

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