A cabinet committee at a meeting at the Ministry of Communications endorsed the policy. Committee chairman Communications Minister Nazmul Huda chaired the meeting.

The objectives of the policy are to make passenger and commodity transport easier on road, rail, air and waterways, determine logical transport fare, and strengthen total communications network.

All this is aimed at "alleviating poverty, creating new employment opportunities and reinforcing rural and urban economies", said an official announcement.

Shipping Minister Colonel (Retd) Akbor Hossain, Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam, Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, State Minister for Civil Aviation Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and State Minister for Communications Salah Uddin Ahmed attended the meeting.

Highlights of the new policy include the formation of a permanent fund for road management, making all national highways at least one metre high during construction or rehabilitation to ward off the impact of recurring floods and making ports and shipping sectors time-worthy for boosting trade and business on the international market.

Other aspects of the policy are to make transport taxation systems and provision easier and logical, update the transport law, evolve a strategy for long-term port development and make air-traffic system more dynamic and profitable.

The Integrated Multi-modal Transport Policy will also help develop domestic and international airports, ensure service standard and make the shipping sector safe, effective and affordable for passengers and freights.