Dhaka:The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) and several organizations have urged the government to reconsider its decision to cancel the dedicated bus lane on the Dhaka-Gazipur Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor and convert the road into a 3+3 lane highway. This call was made during a press conference titled "We Want Implementation of Dhaka-Gazipur BRT" held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall of the Jatiya Press Club.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the event was organized by BIP, the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Works for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, and Gazipur Oitijjho O Unnayan. BIP President Planner Muhammad Ariful Islam presented the keynote, highlighting that the cabinet had decided on October 18 to abolish the bus lane after significant infrastructure investment without purchasing buses or launching the service.
Ariful Islam emphasized the need for accountability, suggesting that responsible individuals and institutions should be held accountable for any financial or operational issues, rather than blaming the BRT system. He called for preserving project documents, conducting a thorough investigation, and making decisions based on comprehensive assessments involving all stakeholders.
Ariful also noted that the BRT system, once operational, could reduce travel time, reliance on private cars, and promote economic growth in Gazipur. He suggested declaring the Airport-Gazipur corridor an "Urban Artery" and retaining the BRT lane as part of broader transport planning.
Gazipur Oitijjho O Unnayan President Engineer Shamsul Haque expressed concern over the prolonged project delay and emphasized the need for accountability, as 97% of the work was reportedly completed. He warned against scrapping the project, which would remove special road-crossing facilities at 25 stations, increasing hardship for women and people with disabilities.
IAB General Secretary Masudur Rashid argued for technical corrections to address any flaws rather than canceling the project, emphasizing its potential impact on transport and development. He urged the government to quickly revive the project with necessary changes.
BIP General Secretary Muhammad Muslehuddin Hasan stated during a question-answer session that discussions have been held with Members of Parliament from Gazipur and that they plan joint talks. Despite previous efforts, including meeting the Prime Minister, their demands have not been addressed by the government. He reiterated the public interest in implementing the project and emphasized its role in urban transformation.
The press conference concluded with BIP presenting an eight-point demand, including a review of the October 18 decision on the BRT project.
Source United News of Bangladesh