Lack of foresight in infrastructure development will lead to suffering

Reporter:

Experts have commented that there is a lack of foresight and faults in the development of the country's important infrastructure. Many infrastructures will increase human suffering in the future if not developed in a planned manner.

They said these things at the training workshop titled "Infrastructure for Building Smart Bangladesh" jointly organized by the Chinese Enterprise Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) and Urban Development Journalists Forum Bangladesh (UDJFB) at Ascott Palace Ballroom in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Public transport expert and BUET professor Shamsul Haque said flyovers can never be a solution to traffic congestion. Because the cars have to get down to the road from the flyover and get stuck in traffic. As a result, public transport should be given importance to reduce traffic congestion in any city. If all the commuters of the metro rail in Dhaka now travel through individual car or an auto-rickshaw, it can be assumed that the road will be at a standstill.

He said that development of communication infrastructure by flyover within the city is short-sighted as many countries including Thailand are demolishing flyovers.

Dr. Shamsul Haque said that there is also lack of coordination among various government agencies. As the height is low, it has been decided to demolish 13 bridges built over the rivers around Dhaka. Meanwhile, 10-lane bridge and rail bridge are being built at the same height in Tongi. The movement of large ships or ferries including cruise ships is also being disrupted under the Padma Bridge.

Bangladesh Institute Planners President Planner Professor Dr. Adil Mahmood Khan said, We should take infrastructure development project by considering everything. But in most cases it is not. As a result, the people do not get the desired services when the project is implemented.

Hasina Bari Chowdhury MP was present as the chief guest on the occasion.

Ke Changliang, president of CEAB, Zhang Xiaoliang, Vice President of CEAB, Wang Jianbing, Dhaka Bureau Chief of China Media Group, Architect Sirajul Islam Khan, Assistant Professor, North South University, Khandkar Mahbub Alam, Superintendent Engineer, Matin Abdullah, President, UDJFB, Faisal Khan, General Secretary of UDJFB and Shohel Mamun former General Secretary of UDJFB were presented. 

In the speech of the chief guest, Hasina Bari Chowdhury called upon everyone to work unitedly to build a smart Bangladesh. She said that China is making an important contribution to the infrastructure development of Bangladesh.

President of CEAB Ke Changliang said that the friendship between Bangladesh and China has been going on for a long time. China is playing a role in the infrastructure development of Bangladesh.

CEAB is basically a platform for Chinese corporates. It plays an important role in the exchange of knowledge, education and culture between Bangladesh and China in addition to being a participant in development.