Demand to launch BRT, call to form commission to investigate irregularities

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Works for a Better Bangladesh Trust (WBB) and Gazipur Heritage and Development jointly organised the press conference. BIP President planner Muhammad Ariful Islam said that at the cabinet meeting on 18 October, a decision was taken to abolish the designated bus lane of the Dhaka-Gazipur BRT corridor and convert the road into a 3+3 lane highway. After constructing infrastructure at a cost of about Tk 2,800 crore, such a change to the project without purchasing buses and launching the service is questionable.

He said that if there are financial or operational problems in implementing the project, the responsibility should be borne by the relevant individuals and institutions; it would not be right to place the blame for any irregularity or technical error on the BRT system or the bus lane. He demanded that all documents be preserved from the beginning of the project, an investigation commission be formed with experts who have no conflict of interest, and the results be made public. He also mentioned that if BRT is launched on the Airport-Gazipur corridor, travel time will decrease, dependence on private cars will reduce, and opportunities will be created for investment and the development of Gazipur's urban economy.

President of Gazipur Heritage and Development Engineer Shamsul Haque said that the BRT project, which began in 2012, has not been completed even in 14 years; whereas the 28-kilometre BRT project in Peshawar, Pakistan, was implemented in only two years. He said the reasons for the decision to cancel the project after about 97 percent of the work was completed, and accountability for those responsible for the delay, must be ensured. Politician Ruhin Hossain Prince demanded the publication of a white paper disclosing overall information about the project.

General Secretary of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh Professor Masudur Rashid said that if there are flaws in the project, they should be solved through technical corrections; cancelling the entire project would be a major mistake. Transport expert engineer Mahbubul Bari said that if BRT is launched, there will be a positive impact on the environment and road safety; since there is a plan to integrate six bus routes with BRT, if the project is cancelled, the implementation of the bus franchise system will also come under question. The press conference raised eight-point demands, including reconsidering the 18 October decision, assessing the financial and environmental aspects of all alternatives, forming an independent investigation commission, declaring the corridor an urban artery, and keeping the BRT lane intact.