Security for foreigners to get priority
The government has given top priority to ensure security for foreign nationals involved in various projects, including Metro Rail and Padma bridge. As many as 36 per cent of the work on the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) has been completed. Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader made the disclosure after a meeting on post-Eid evaluation of various work at the Secretariat yesterday (Monday).
Expressing deep shock over the Gulshan incident, Quader said: We condole the killing of foreign nationals, six of them Japanese. These foreigners were engaged in Metro Rail and other government projects.
The government has taken special measures to ensure security for the foreign nationals involved in Metro Rail route-1, 5 and 6 and other projects, he added.
The Japanese government sincerely wants to move forward with the feasibility study for the Metro Rail
project, said the minister. According to Quader, the construction work on the PMB project is proceeding as per schedule. Weve completed 36 per cent of the work and the piling work for 18 has been done, he said.
The minister further said that three-wheelers were seen plying on highways. The government will take tough action against such three-wheelers. We wont allow three-wheelers to ply on the highways, he warned.
Every life is valuable, the minister said. At least 42 people died in accidents on national highways and regional roads during the Eid vacation. The number of deaths is half compared to last years Eid, he added. The government has a target to bring down road accidents by 50pc by 2020, he said.
Bikers must use helmet while riding motorcycles and this rule will be implemented strictly. We wont allow more than two persons on a motorcycle, Quader said.
The authorities have identified loopholes during Eid, Quader said. Travel on highways during the next Eid will be safer and smoother, he added.
