Economy
IPD urge reducing Metro fares 30p to realize full benefit
The Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) inspired reducing the metro rail fares by 30 percent, in order for it to have the desired effect as a form of public transport.
Speakers from the IPD came up with the recommendation while addressing a virtual programs on ‘Metrorail in the sustainable plan of Dhaka: Prospective and ways’, held on Monday (26 December)
They said the Metro rail can indeed play a significant role in the communication and transportation system of Dhaka, as long as the fare is reasonable for all and accessibility of metro stations can be facilitated.
The middle-income people will use mass transport more and as a result, the authorities concerned should reduce the earlier-announced fares by 30 percent to ensure adequate passengers.
They also demanded 50 percent discounts for lower-income people, minimum wage earners and students, and to make it free for children up to five years.
They also said that the use of metro rail can be made effective through proper planning, ensuring the access of pedestrians, bus transit, community-based service, CNG autorickshaws, rickshaws, private cars and other vehicles in the metro rail stations.
This year, the government will inaugurate one segment of metro rail project and when the full project is opened next year from Uttara via Agargaon to Motijheel, a huge number of passengers will use it in a short period of time, which will bring a positive change in the transport system, said the speakers.
IPD also proposed to recover the expenditure of metro rail through ‘betterment and land development fees’, to make the metro stations commercially effective by building station plazas, to make an integrated corridor development management plan on both sides of the metro corridor and to make a sustainable and inclusive land use management plan covering 500 metres of metro stations.
Akter Mahmud, advisor to the IPD and Prof. of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University, said it is necessary to take up an initiative for land consolidation in and
around the metro rail stations. He also requested the users of the metro to not glue posters or dump waste here and there on the metro rail.
Ashraful Islam, Rajuk planner, said bus services, walkways and car parking systems must be maintained and developed to make the metro rail more effective.
Redwanur Rahman, a development expert, recommended taking up financial projects after specifying the commercial and advertisement areas of the metro stations.
IPD also suggested introducing a commuter service along Tongi-Airport-Banani-Tejgaon-Kamalapur-Narayanganj rail corridor.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
