Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project – from Gazipur to Dhaka – has turned into a major issue for the government. “There are some complications on this route. The project started before I took office. The current state of this project, which is in disarray, is a result of flawed planning. However, I’ve instructed the project officials to wrap it up at any cost, so that we can open it in March-April next year,” the minister said. Quader made the remarks while talking to journalists after attending a meeting with departmental heads of his ministry at the Secretariat today. Also read: Dhaka BRT girder tragedy: Probe body find 12 reasons for the accident. Asked what actions were taken against the Chinese company responsible for the BRT girder crash (on August 15, 2022) in Uttara, Quader said that although the company has been allowed to complete the construction work, they won’t get any more projects in Bangladesh. Quader, also General Secretary of the ruling Awami League (AL), added that a total of 100 bridges in different parts of the country will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in the coming days. “The bridges will be opened whenever the PM can manage some time. Before the inauguration, three rallies will be arranged in the Chattogram region, where most of the bridges have been constructed. The first phase of MRT Line-6 and Bangabandhu Tunnel will also be completed soon,” the minister added. Read Dhaka BRT girder tragedy: Probe body find 12 reasons for the accident Replying to a question, Quader said that although the country is facing various crises, it’s still faring better than a lot of other countries in the world. “The government isn’t concerned about foreign exchange reserves as we’ll be able to make payments for 5-6 months with the current reserves. There won’t be any food crisis as we are producing ample food. We’ll also discuss the energy issue with Brunei. In a nutshell, we’re ready to face any crisis,” Quader further said. The minister also reaffirmed the government’s stance that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the next general election which will be held under the incumbent government. Read Dhaka BRT girder collapse: HC issues rule on providing TK 5 cr compensation.

A probe body formed to investigate last month's horrific accident in Uttara that saw a massive girder of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project crush five members of a family to death in their car, has found the Chinese contractor responsible for the tragedy. Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division ABM Amin Ullah Nuri revealed this at a press briefing on the probe report at the Secretariat on Sunday. The probe body found the contractor firm, China Gezhouba Group Corporation, or CGGC responsible for the accident, he said. Separately, the probe body pointed to twelve circumstantial reasons behind the accident. These are as follows: Also read: 10 people remanded over Uttara girder crash · The authorities concerned were shifting the girder in the daytime for the first time, which is among the prime reasons behind the accident. · The authorities concerned were ignoring the government holiday without taking any prior permission from the higher authorities concerned. · The crane was driven by an assistant operator or helper of the crane’s main operator. · Even the operator had no licence. · The crane was found driving on a bumpy road. · There was no digital monitor on the crane. · The workers did not take any prior approval for the work. · There was no specific traffic management. Also read: PM orders to find out those responsible for Uttara girder crash · Ineptitude of the traffic management workers. · Lack of a safety engineer. · There was no emergency plan management · Those found working that day were not approved by the contractor firm. Few days after the accident, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said there would be no objections on their part if punitive actions is taken against those found responsible for the tragedy in an official probe. The probe body also provides some recommendations, including to continue the project work after ensuring safety as per the agreement; take prior approval for safety related issue; should be coordinated with the engineer, consultant, police, city corporation and other concerned for road related work; shifting heavy things like girder should take place from 8pm to 6am, after ensuring proper safety measure and must ensure emergency incident management plan and keeping standby capacity cranes or wrecker, ambulance, first aid and emergency doctor in the project area. The committee suggested bearing the cost of the victims injured in the accident as per prior consensus. On August 15, five members of a family, including two children, were crushed to death after a girder of the BRT project in Uttara fell from a crane on their private car. The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges formed the six-member probe committee to investigate the tragedy on the following day. Meanwhile, a police case has been filed in connection with the tragedy that occurred around 4.15pm when the girder of the Gazipur Expressway fell on the car from a crane while it was being moved in front of Gazipur Paradise Tower. The FIR for causing death due to negligence does not name anyone but lists the crane operator and the company responsible for the project, China Gezhouba Group Co Ltd, police said.

Five people of a family including two children died after a girder of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project fell on a private car in the city's Uttara area on Monday afternoon, said police. The deceased were identified as Rubel, 50, his wife Fahima, 40, her sister Jhorna, 28, and Jhorna's two children Jannat, 6, and Jakaria, 2, who got crushed inside the mangled car, said Yeasin Gazi, inspector of Uttara west police station. Also read: 6 charred bodies retrieved from Old Dhaka plastic factory: Fire Service Two other occupants of the car managed to escape with serious injuries and were rushed to a local hospital, said police. They were identified as Rubel's son Hridoy, 26, and Ria Moni, 21. It comes exactly one month after a worker was killed by a falling crane in the Gazipur part of the project, and last year six workers escaped with injuries after a part of a launching girder collapsed near them, close to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Today's accident occurred around 4:15 pm when the girder of the Gazipur Expressway fell from a crane while it was being moved in front of Gazipur Paradise Tower, he added. It suggests the use of cranes of insufficient strength in the project. Also read: Rohingya leaders shot dead in Cox’s Bazar Fire fighters recovered five bodies from the accident-hit car and handed those over to police, said the inspector. A family member said Hridoy and Ria Moni got married on Saturday and were going to the latter's house in Gazipur along with five other relatives in the car this afternoon. Hridoy's father Rubel was driving the car when the girder fell on the vehicle.

Construction of Bus Rapid Transit from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Mohakhali is under consideration of the government. Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal informed this in his budget speech in parliament on Thursday. Giving a description on mega projects, he said the construction of 46.73 km Elevated Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway is in progress. About 78.94 per cent construction work of the first part (Airport-Banani) has already been completed. The physical progress of the entire project is 43.60 percent. Read: Budget FY23: Education allocation to rise by less than 2 pc of GDP On the other hand, 69 percent of construction of the 20 km Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been completed. Mass Rapid Transit in Dhaka Metropolitan City He also informed that the government has adopted a time-bound Action Plan to build an integrated metrorail system of 129.901 km (68.729 km long elevated and 61.172 km long underground) with 105 stations (52 surface and 53 underground) under the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). This will comprise 6 metro rail lines to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment of the Dhaka metropolitan city and surrounding areas by 2030. Following this action plan, the construction of the first ever metro rail system from Uttara 3rd phase to Motijheel, which will be 20.10 km long with 16 stations, is at the final stage. In the meantime, Metrorail has completed its trial run from Uttara 3rd Depo to Agargaon successfully. This part is set to be launched for commercial use by December, 2022. The remaining part from Agargaon to Motijheel part is expected to go on commercial operation by December, 2023. Later on, the finance minister said, it will be extended 1.16 km from Motijheel to Kamlapur. Besides, detailed design works of Southern Route of MRT Line-5 and Northern Route of MRT Line-1 are about to be completed. Read: Budget FY23: Women, children get higher allocation “Hopefully, the construction of MRT Line-1 will start from July 2022. Moreover, the government has also taken up a plan to introduce MRT system in Chattogram city”. He said that with a view to building transport and communication systems that support industry and trade in the country, the government is implementing a number of mega projects, one of which is the Padma Bridge. As a result of the bold steps taken by the Prime Minister, it has been possible to complete the construction work of the 6.15 km long Padma Bridge with the own funds of the government. Another project, construction of the 3.32 km Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karafuli River, is about to be completed and the tunnel is expected to be opened to traffic by December 2022, he said.