Quader urges RHD engrs to work with integrity

Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader has urged engineers in the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to maintain integrity in their work to help the country move forward.

"Let us ask ourselves (engineers), how much money is needed to live a good life? If you commit corruption, your family and the next generation will suffer. The whole department evaluates engineers who perform their duties with integrity, even after they die,” Quader said at the annual conference of the Roads and Highways Engineers Association (RHEA) in the city on Thursday.

Awami League Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur and RHD Chief Engineer Md. Ishaque were the special guests, while RHEA president Syed Moinul Hasan presided over the event.

Amit Kumar Chakrabart, the organization's general secretary, delivered the welcome address.

Bashundhara Bitumen, a brand of Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Limited, is the platinum sponsor of the conference.

During his address, Quader sought the support of engineers to transform Digital Bangladesh into a smarter nation.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formulated a national strategy for smart Bangladesh to lead the country to become a developed nation. Smart highways and a smart communication system are needed to make this strategy a reality. Boosting engineering skills is essential to realizing the national strategy," he noted.

The minister noted that the country's economy is growing thanks to expatriates and export earnings.

"The country's foreign reserves is now $34 billion. We can pay import bills for the next five months. During my recent medical checkup in Singapore, I heard Pakistan’s reserves had fallen to below five billion, which barely covers a month’s imports. Pakistan is also in the same boat as Sri Lanka, but Bangladesh is moving forward under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership," he said.

The minister said that the World Bank has recognized Bangladesh's development activities as a role model for other countries.

World Bank, which denied funding for the Padma Bridge, now appreciates Bangladesh. A vice president of the development agency recently visited Dhaka and was surprised at the country's progress. “All developments are made possible by the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Quader said.

He emphasized the Awami League's political stance to ensure the security of the people in his response to journalists' questions following the opening of the conference.

He cited the Rangpur and Gaibandha elections as examples of how the opposition parties can change the government through elections.

"There will be fair, free, and impartial elections; the government won't interfere in any way. If people want to change the government, they should participate in the election. I am in government if people want it, I'm out if they don't," Quader said.

Abdus Sabur, former president of the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), stated that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began the development of war-torn Bangladesh through the expansion of road connectivity.

"Over the last thirteen years, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has guided the country with her far-sighted Digital Bangladesh strategy. We should work together to achieve the next goals of Smart Bangladesh through leveraging new technologies across the board," he said.

As platinum sponsor, Bashundhara Bitumen supports the conference of engineers this year that focuses on smart highways for leading the country into the fourth industrial revolution.

Bashundhara Group produces 60-70 penetration grade bitumen, which is effective for wearing courses of national highways, internal roads, and bridges and sustainable in all kinds of weather conditions.

The industrial conglomerate launched the country's first bitumen plant in February 2020 in order to meet the growing demand for bitumen on the local market.

The plant has the capacity to produce bitumen grades such as Cutback, Emulsified, Oxidised and Polymer (SBS, Rubber Powder) and is customised as per clients' requirements.