PM Sheikh Hasina urges for implementing Dhaka-Chittagong Express Railway

"The two mega projects will have to be executed considering the long-time benefits of the country and its people," she said after a power-point presentation on the two schemes at her official Ganobhaban residence here.

Road Transport and Highways Secretary MAN Siddique made a power-point presentation on the proposed Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway on PPP basis project, while Railways Ministry Secretary Md Feroz Salah Uddin on the Dhaka-Chittagong Express Railway project.

The Prime Minister said that there is no need to think about the amount or the project cost, rather projects should be considered on the basis of what is beneficial to the people.

Sheikh Hasina said that the income of the country's people is increasing. "So we will have to take decisions by keeping in mind the changing context of the next 20 to 25 years," she said.

Highlighting the importance of the BCIM Economic Corridor alongside BBIN regional connectivity initiative, the Prime Minisyer said that Chittagong is an important place for materializing this BCIM initiative for which the project would be helpful.

"The communication network is expanding so as the businesses. If there is no strong regional connectivity, then the country's economy would not get dynamism and this should remain in our mind," she added.

The Prime Minister also asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Railways Ministry to hold inter-ministerial meeting and keep provision of rail network with the Express Railway project with the Padma Bridge.

Sheikh Hasina said that whatever be the cost, the best one proposal will have to be chosen for the country's better future.

In this connection, she mentioned that the present foreign currency reserve is over $ 26 billion, which could help move ahead with the project implementation. Talking about the successes of the DEMU train services in Narayanganj route, she said that it now takes only twenty minutes to travel from Dhaka to Narayanganj which was two to four hours in the past.

In this regard, the Prime Minister suggested the Railways Ministry in taking necessary measures towards introducing DEMU Train services for Chittagong University, Rajshahi University and Bangladesh Agriculture University in Mymensingh in a bid to facilitate communication of those university students.

Sheikh Hasina also underscored the need for utilizing the waterways considering the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal since it is an economic mode of transport.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Railways Minister Mazibul Haque, PM's Advisors HT Imam, Dr Moshiur Rahman and Dr Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu, PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and secretaries concerned were present at the function.