DHAKA, Oct 22, 2021 (BSS) - Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said bringing discipline in street is a big challenge now.

   He was addressing a discussion marking National Road Safety Day at Sarak Bhaban at Tejgaon here.

   Earlier, Highway Police IGP Mollik Fakhrul Islam presented the statistics of fining for violating traffic rules on streets in the last nine months.

   In this regard, Quader said: "There will be no benefit presenting the amount of penalization. It's doesn't matter. To me the matter is whether the streets are safe or not, whether the vehicles are abiding by traffic rules or not, whether vehicles have fitness or not and whether the drives are eligible or not."

   Noting that street accidents remain as a reason for big worry, the minister said every day the country is witnessing fatal road mishaps and many people are dying.

   "We have many flaws. Our duty won't end by making beautiful banners and posters only. We will have to make every day as road safety day," he said.

   He said if they cannot bring discipline in streets, massive development and progress in this sector will get faded.

   Mentioning that several mega projects will come under his ministry in the coming days, he said infrastructural development is visible now as constructions works of mega project like Padma Bridge, MRT Line-6, Bus Rapid Transit and Karnaphuli tunnel are expected to be inaugurated in the next year.

   He said another marine drive will be inaugurated from Chattogram Mirsarai in future.

He said Paisa Bridge will be opened on October 24 next while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to lay the foundation stone of much-anticipated Dhaka-Sylhet and Sylhet-Tamabil highway.

     He asked the concerned authorities of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to stop any kind of corruption and irregularity in BRTA and take disciplinary actions against those who will be found involved in irregularities.

     The minister also asked the Road Transport and Highways Division secretary to quickly complete the constructions projects of waiting room for drives on highways.

     He expressed his worry that movement of easy-bike has spread up to villages. "We have banned operation of easy-bike in 22 streets. But, this ban is not being obeyed in some areas. Now plying of motorcycle becomes a problem in streets as the motorcyclists are also frequently violating traffic rules," he said.

     Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Nazrul Islam chaired the discussion while Nirapad Sarak Chai chairman Ilias Kanchan and Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Abdus Sabur, Highway Police IGP Mollik Fakhrul Islam spoke, among others.