PM for realising tolls from regional highways

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the authorities concerned to take necessary measures for realising tolls from the regional highways.

"The government is constructing infrastructures spending thousands of crores of Taka. So, there is a need to make arrangement for realising tolls from the regional highways at least at a minimum rate. Through this, the culture of paying tolls will be developed among people," she said.

The premier said this while chairing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held at the NEC Conference Room in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Planning Minister MA Mannan and State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

Mannan said the Prime Minister expressed shock at the tragic fire incident at the Bangabazar in the capital.

He said there were a lot of shops in the market in a congested manner while the Prime Minister in the meeting discussed on how to address the issue.

Revealing some of the directives from the Prime Minister, Mannan said that the Premier has directed the authorities concerned to ensure toilets and sanitation system at each and every school. "No school will run without sanitation system," he said quoting the Prime Minister as saying.

Citing that the work of the womenfolk still remains outside of the purview of accounting estimation, the Prime Minister said if their works are counted, then the GDP growth would have been much higher for which there is a need to give due recognition to the work of the women.

Suggesting for avoiding the arable and farmland as much as possible in implementing development projects, Sheikh Hasina also recommended for building elevated roads in the haor region instead of usual roads.

She also directed the Ministry of Commerce to complete the distribution of the essential items among some one crore family card holders at affordable rates under the 2nd phase before the holy Eid ul Fitr.

Answering to a question, Mannan said that they would continue efforts to increase the capacity of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense.

But, the fire incident at Bangabazar has showed that there is a need to create more awareness among the commoner, he added.