Investment policy for Dhaka
Sohel Islam
A high-powered committee has been formed on the directive of the Prime Minister to prepare an investment policy in the private sector for infrastructural development of Dhaka city and the rest of the country, according to sources. In a meeting, held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on July 19 with the Prime Minister herself in the chair, responsibility in this regard was given to a seven-member committee headed by Principal Secretary to the PM Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui. The committee will enact a draft after analysing similar policies and laws of countries like Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan etc. The meeting also emphasised that the committee should ensure the interest of the country when opting for the developmental works under Build-Operate-Own (BOT) and Build-Operate-Own (BOO) methods. A month's time has been given for submission of the draft to the Prime Minister. Other issues were also discussed at the meeting. It was decided that the eastern part of Bijoy Sarani would be extended by acquiring structures on both sides of the Rangs Bhaban and to connect it with the Tongi Diversion Road. The Kamlapur Container Depot will be shifted to Tongi to ease the pressure created by an ever-increasing number of containers and its handling. The Chittagong Port Authority and Bangladesh Railway will be responsible for implementation of the relocation process. Sources at the meeting also informed that the Shadharan Bima Corporation would finally construct the much-awaited 20 storey commercial-cum-car parking facility at Motijheel with its own funds on about two-bigha land. The estimated cost of this multi-storey parking has been fixed at about Tk 100 Crore. Shadharan Bima Corporation has already invited tenders in this regard. In order to reduce traffic congestion of the city, the Tejgaon Truck Terminal will be re-located to a suitable place on the outskirts of the city. Bangladesh Railway, Dhaka City Corporation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Dhaka Transport Co-ordination Board will work together to complete this venture. Another major decision was to transfer the Dhaka Central Jail to Gazipur and Keraniganj to allow the city some breathing space. "Like the prison at the Andaman Islands, some historic parts of the Dhaka Central Jail will be turned into museums. The rest of the place will be used as open spaces and parks," said one of the participants of the meeting.
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