DHAKA, July 25, 2020 (BSS) – Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the government is making all-out efforts to contain the spread of deadly coronavirus (Covid-19) and ensure necessary treatment for patients.
“We are making our best efforts to check the spread of coronavirus and ensure required treatment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been constantly monitoring the situation,” he said, addressing a discussion on government measures and directives marking Eid-ul-Azha at BRTC headquarters here.
Quader, also Awami League general secretary, joined the discussion from his official residence on the premises of parliament and described the government’s efforts in the health sector.
The government has been spreading quality health services all over the country through multifaceted measures including setting up community clinics at remote areas and medical colleges at district levels to reach the health facilities to the doorsteps of the people, he said.
The minister said medical universities are being built at divisional levels and intensive-care-unit (ICU) complex and central oxygen supply are being set up at each district hospital while sufficient allocations are also being given in the health sector.
Quader urged the people to abide by health guidelines and social distancing rules strictly to protect themselves from the deadly virus.
Pointing to previous experiences of increase in the road accidents during Eid journeys, he urged the transport owners and workers to maintain the highest cautionary measures in operation of vehicles on streets before and after the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
He also urged the law enforcement agencies, including the highway police, district level police and all others concerned to strictly monitor vehicular movements so that no unexpected incident takes place.
Turning to problems of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), the minister said its problems are not about workers or employees rather on the depot centric irregularities.
Quader said he came to know that BRTC headquarters has some problems and there are allegations of irregularities in some areas, including vehicles repairing, purchasing, leasing out its buses and lands, realizing lease payment and trip management.
Issuing a note of warning, he reiterated the government’s firm stance against irregularities and said none is beyond accountability.
He urged BRTC official, employees others concerned to raise above the trend of existing irregularities and work with utmost honesty, sincerity and patriotism for the betterment of the nation.