Bangladesh has endured the perils of a poor transport system and inefficient road management for years, and that is becoming increasingly evident with worsening traffic congestion.
Despite the government's many commendable attempts to improve its current state, it is undeniable that our transport system is in need of massive changes, and some assistance on the matter would certainly be useful too.
To that end, the recent agreement signed between Bangladesh and South Korea -- to develop a transport master plan and a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of an urban metro rail transit in Chittagong city -- is extremely promising, and could be the answer to a system in disarray.
The two-year collaborative project, involving a Tk60.01 crore grant, will aim to design a master plan for ease of transportation in Chittagong city, which could substantially improve traffic safety and reduce its environmental impacts.
South Korea has been an ally to Bangladesh for almost five decades, and previous collaborations between the two nations have borne fruitful results. With the knowledge, experience, and technological support Korea has to offer, this project could also prove to be a notable resource.
Furthermore, upon the expected success of the project, the design and its subsequent implementation could be applied to and benefit not only Chittagong but the country in its entirety.
This is certainly not to say that all our transportation-related concerns will be resolved through this project alone; other measures such as better road plans, improvement of the public transport system, and decentralization are all crucial steps for a long-term solution.
Nevertheless, this is certainly the kind of initiative we need to get behind at this stage of our country's progress. Bangladesh still has a long way to go in terms of its overall development, and assistance from our neighbours and allies can be just what we need to keep us on track.
