DHAKA, Aug 12, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today laid the
foundation stone of an underpass near Shahid Ramij Uddin School and College
on Dhaka Airport Road, urging all government officials to discharge duties
sincerely as expectation of the posterities.
“Our children have opened up our eyes, awakening our conscience….. So, I
hope that everybody in their respective field would accomplish their own duty
and responsibility according to the expectation of the people particularly
the young chaps,” she said.
Everybody including drivers and helpers must abide by the traffic rules,
she said, adding “all city buses should be plied in lines without overtaking;
otherwise instant action should be taken against the law breakers.”
Addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony on Shahid Ramij Uddin
School and College premises, the prime minister asked the inspector general
of police (IGP) to introduce close circuit cameras in all roads and digital
number plate for the vehicles to monitor the traffic movement and
irregularities on the roads.
She said “The design of the underpass project has been finalised a long
time ago, but it was not progressing on the issue who will provide fund,
creating procrastination in implementing the project.”
The tragic death of two children in road accident could be avoided if the
project was implemented in time, the prime minister said, urging the
bureaucrats to avoid dilly dallying attitude while taking a project in
future.
Sheikh Hasina expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved families’ members of
the two deceased students of the college – Diya Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim
Rajib and their friends and teachers and offered prayer for salvation of the
departed souls.
Diya and Rajib were killed when a bus ploughed through them in front of the
Kurmitola General Hospital on the Airport Road on July 29 last.
Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Kader, Education Minister
Nurul Islam Nahid, Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed spoke among others
on the occasion.
PM’s advisor HT Imam, Chiefs of Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy
and senior civil and military officials were present.
The underpass would help the pedestrians to cross the busy road safely,
particularly of the students of Shahid Ramij Uddin School and College,
patients of Kurmitola General Hospital, residents of Baridhara DOHS and
people working in many military and civil organisation in the adjacent areas.
The 43 meter long underpass with two bus bays and 500- meter footpath will
have special arrangement for cyclist and disabled persons, said Engineer-in-
Chief of Bangladesh Army Major General Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar in his
inaugural speech.
The 24 Engineering Construction Brigade of Bangladesh Army will construct
the underpass with GOB fund of Taka 54 crore within one year, he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has already allocated
five buses for Ramij Uddin School and College students and other schools
would get bus service as their need.
Pointing out the steps taken by the government for safe movement of the
students in the city, the prime minister said zebra crossings would be
clearly marked in front of all junctures and traffic police will be on duty
in front of all schools and colleges at those opening and closing time.
If necessary, students of upper classes would provide volunteer service to
traffic police, she said, adding that use of underpasses and overpasses
should be ensured.
Sheikh Hasina said though it’s not possible to compensate a family for
death of a child but her government has made all possible efforts to stand
beside the families of the dead and injured students.
She thanked the Bangladesh Army for undertaking the responsibility of
construction of the underpass, hoping that it would be built in shortest
possible time.
Highlighting the steps taken by her government for development of city’s
traffic management system, the prime minister said most of the major city
roads had been constructed without divider, causing regular accidents.
The Awami League government after coming to power in 1996 had taken the
initiatives to construct the divider on airport road and Manik Mia Avenue and
other major roads, she added.
The premier lamented wrong use of digital technology by a section of people
and misguided youths saying most of the children of Bangladesh now have
acquired the knowledge of using internet technology and the government has
taken all initiative to open the whole world to them.
“But, unfortunately, we see some of our people are still blind,” she said.
She added that BNP government in past stopped the BRTC service all over
the country, which the Awami League government reintroduced after coming to
power in 2009.
The government has also taken initiative to give training to the drivers to
avoid accident. But, unfortunately many drivers are careless about the
necessity of the training, giving the steering to the helpers, causing
frequent accidents, she continued.
The accident in front of the Shahid Ramij Uddin School and College is a
complete fault of the driver which is unpardonable. The driver responsible
for death of two students would never be spared and the victims’ families
would get proper justice, the prime minister said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has framed the road transport act after
consultation with all concerned parties. The law will be passed in the next
session of the parliament, she said.
The protest of the students after the accident was unique. But intrusion of
third party in school uniforms and wielding lethal weapons on the third day
of the movement has dampened its spirit, she added.
She also said unscrupulous group spread rumours in social media against the
government and Awami League.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has established digital Bangladesh
allowing every people to have cell phone and enjoy the 4G facilities. But,
many people, even some elderly ones are using the technology with evil mind.
The prime minister urged the countrymen not to pay heed to the rumours and
verify the correctness of information before expressing their reaction.
Digital Bangladesh was established to help the people acquire modern
education and technology, not for spreading falsehood or rumours, she said.
Sheikh Hasina thanked the students, guardians and teachers for returning
home from the streets at her call.