All parties will contest polls:?PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that the general election would be held in accordance with the Constitution. “The government is pledged to continue Bangladesh’s democracy and development and the next parliamentary election will be held in accordance with the Constitution,” the Prime Minister told parliament in reply to a question from Shamsul Haque Chowdhury of Chittagong-11 constituency. Sheikh Hasina, who is also the Leader of the House, said she firmly believes that the election would be held in a free and fair manner and all political parties would take part in it.
She expressed the hope that the ruling alliance would be voted to power again for the development activities her government had undertaken during the past five years. The successes have also been marked by Bangladesh’s pioneering role in world peace, climate change and international migration and in creating the country’s positive image on traditional and non-traditional security issues across the world.
The Prime Minister informed the House that if the ruling alliance could retain power, it would take steps in line with those taken during the last five years to strengthen ties with all countries, including neighbours, and to uphold the country’s image in the international arena.
Replying to another question from BNP lawmaker Nazim Uddin Ahmed, she said construction work on the Padma Bridge Project is underway. The work, at an estimated cost of Tk. 20,507.20 crore, or USD 2.97 billion, with government funding, is well in progress, she said.
The work on the riverbank protection at the Janzira Construction Yard at a cost of Tk. 95.98 crore is underway. Sixty-five per cent of the work has already been completed, she said.
The PM also told the House that work on the Janzira Approach Road, costing Tk. 1262.96 crore, is in progress. She said the cabinet committee on public procurement has approved a proposal for appointing contractors for the construction of the Mawa Approach Road. Taka 259.56 crore has been earmarked for the work.
The expression of interest (EoI) has been floated for appointing supervision consultant for constructing the main bridge and supervision of the river training work, she said. As many as 11 organisations have submitted proposals and five of them have been short-listed. The RFP will be issued soon, she added.
The Prime Minister also said work on land acquisition and rehabilitation of the affected people is in the final phase.
She said the government has taken steps to construct the second Padma multipurpose bridge at Paturia-Goalanda point considering the socio-economic condition and communication problem of a large number of people in the south and south-western part of the country. “It is expected that the construction work of the second Padma bridge will start in time.” she added.
The government is considering building a circular railway around the city to reduce the capital’s traffic congestion, she said.
-With The Independent input
