Md. Zillur Rahaman: Development is a multifaceted and comprehensive process and an important aspect of this is economic development and growth. The importance of transport and communication system is immense in the economic development of any country. The more developed the transport and communication system of a country, the more developed and stronger is its economy. The basis of economic development and progress of any country is the planned and sustainable development of transport and communication system. Judging from the economic, cultural, social and other aspects, the importance of the transport and communication system of the country can easily be understood.
Transportation system basically means transportation and communication system. Nowadays transportation and communication systems are presented separately. Land, water and air transport are considered in the transport system but in the communication system, postal departments, telephone, radio, television, computer, satellite, etc. are considered. At present, a country’s economy, education, medicine, trade and commerce, etc., are heavily dependent on transportation and communication systems. Moreover, the system of communication plays a significant role in various fields of a country, especially economic development, improvement of market system, employment of people, cooperation in equitable distribution of resources, etc.
The overall economic activities of the country depend on the communication system. Improving the communication system facilitates easy and low-cost transportation of agricultural commodities, industrial raw materials, manufactured goods, etc., which increases production in the country, expands industry and trade, and accelerates the pace of economic development. For this reason, the transport and communication system can be considered as a symbol of economic development and prosperity. The economic, social and political conditions of the country are closely related to the communication system.
Bangladesh’s transportation system is an important component and part of the country’s economy. Since the independence of Bangladesh, the infrastructural development of the country has progressed at a rapid pace and at present multiple transportation systems have been established by water, land and air. However, the introduction of all types of transport systems across the country has not yet been confirmed. However, in the past, the transport system of Bangladesh was very weak. At that time, rivers and roads were the main means of transportation and the main means of transportation were boats, oxen and horse carts. We had to walk long distances because there were not enough roads. The river was easy and fast way to navigate. In the past, river paths were used most of the time.
| ব্যাংক, ব্যাংকার, ব্যাংকিং, অর্থনীতি ও ফাইন্যান্স বিষয়ক গুরুত্বপূর্ণ খবর, প্রতিবেদন, বিশেষ কলাম, বিনিয়োগ/ লোন, ডেবিট কার্ড, ক্রেডিট কার্ড, ফিনটেক, ব্যাংকের নিয়োগ বিজ্ঞপ্তি ও বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের সার্কুলারগুলোর আপডেট পেতে আমাদের অফিসিয়াল ফেসবুক পেজ 'ব্যাংকিং নিউজ', ফেসবুক গ্রুপ 'ব্যাংকিং ইনফরমেশন', 'লিংকডইন', 'টেলিগ্রাম চ্যানেল', 'ইন্সটাগ্রাম', 'টুইটার', 'ইউটিউব', 'হোয়াটসঅ্যাপ চ্যানেল' এবং 'গুগল নিউজ'-এ যুক্ত হয়ে সাথে থাকুন। |
The country’s various modes of transport are playing an important role in carrying passengers and transporting goods and making economic progress. The road system of the country has facilitated the rapid transfer of agricultural products, industrial raw materials and manufactured products of the country based on agriculture-dependent villages and the means of communication between villages and cities. Road communication is playing an important role in agricultural and industrial development, collection of forest resources, marketing of agricultural and industrial products, transportation and communication. The communication system involves the question of the livelihood of a large number of people. The development of rural Bengal is the development of the country and for that the improved road communication has a special contribution. In recent times, the communication system is constantly expanding and the facilities for general passenger and freight transport are being enhanced. Railways are the second main mode of transport by land. Every day thousands of people and goods are transported by rail. Due to the low risk of railways, it is very popular among the people. Railways are predominant in size and transportation of heavy goods.
Being a riverine country, waterways were the main mode of transportation in ancient Bengal. Naval communication plays a very important role in terms of transportation and communication facilities, low cost & coastal communication, disaster management, foreign trade, revenue generation etc. However, due to the existence of various problems in naval communication, its potential is not going to be fully utilized. In this case, it is advisable to be active in increasing the facilities. Due to the flooding of the river, the navigation in the country is facing obstacles and it is necessary to take safety measures in these cases.
The country’s aviation is of special importance and it is possible to travel very fast by air. This is a very small waste of time and perishable goods can be easily transported. Air communication is especially important for the rapid dispatch of relief supplies in the event of a natural disaster. Although Biman communication in Bangladesh is not adequate, Bangladesh Biman continues to compete with the world’s leading airlines in terms of management, efficiency enhancement and improved passenger service. However, Bangladesh has not made much progress in the air transport system, yet airports have been set up in some parts of the country. The cost of air travel is so high that ordinary people cannot use it.
With the economic development, the number of vehicles in cities and villages has increased tremendously. Noise and traffic jams continue on the roads due to extra vehicles. Dhaka City Corporation, RAJUK, Roads and Bridges Department, Local Government Engineering Department are working to solve the road problems. The Government of Bangladesh is taking new practical steps to develop the transport system.
Along with north Bengal, the river Jamuna was a hindrance to the daily activities of the residents of the capital Dhaka and other districts of the country. When the Bangabandhu Bridge was built over this river, the course of the economy began to change. North Bengal has benefited in many ways through the bridge and many have returned to comfort. This is a positive change for the country. The construction cost of Bangabandhu Bridge has already come up. Initially, the plan was to raise investment money for the bridge in 25 years. But that money came up seven years ago which ensures the progress of national economy. As Bangladesh is a densely populated country, there are two benefits to building such a large bridge. The investment that goes into building the bridge comes up quickly, along with the profits. The areas connected to the bridge are economically prosperous, which has been implemented through Bangabandhu’s bridge.
In the same way, the first integrated communication system of Bangladesh will be developed around the Padma Bridge. The southwest is already well developed in agriculture and once this bridge is completed, their agricultural products will easily reach Dhaka. Direct communication of Chittagong with the capital and port city will be established with Mongla and Payra ports and Benapole land port. It will have a positive impact on the economy of the whole country. A rate of return of 12% of an investment is considered ideal. If this bridge is built, 19 percent of the annual investment will come up. Agriculture, industry, economy, education, trade — this bridge will play a huge role in all fields. The ongoing Karnafuli Tunnel, Metro Rail Project, Dhaka Elevated Expressway and several other important cloud projects are being added to this trend of development. If these are implemented, new horizons will be opened in the transport system of Bangladesh and these will play a huge role in the development and growth of the country.
Although not all of these are equally important in this diversity of communication system of Bangladesh, its contribution to the economic development of the country is undeniable. Therefore, by taking measures for smooth coordination between different communication systems, these have to be developed as complementary to each other. The economic development of the country lies in the coordination of different transport systems. However, every country has some problems in the transport system and here Bangladesh is no exception. Bangladesh is lagging behind in transport system due to several reasons. Quality of road construction, errors in traffic management, wrong steps of regulatory administrators, bribery, corruption, nepotism, indifference to law etc. If necessary steps are taken to solve the above problems, the transport system of the country will get a better shape.
At present the transport system of Bangladesh has improved a lot and roads have also been constructed in remote areas of the country. With the development of transportation system, anything can be easily moved from one place to another in the country. The number of machine driven vehicles has also increased significantly.
Md. Zillur Rahaman is a Banker and Freelance Columnist.
