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*** Letters for publication in these columns should be addressed to the Editor and legibly written or typed with double space. For reasons of space, short letters are preferred, and all are subject to editing and cuts. Pseudonyms are accepted. However, all communications must bear the writer's real name, signature and address. ***
Rupsa ferry ghat
Sir, With reference to the letter of Mr Md Abed All on the above subject published in The Daily Star dated December 1, 1 am pleased to inform you that a certain degree of traffic discipline has been created since the recent visit of the Prime Minister.
On the western or city side, traffic pattern has been arranged so that rickshaws and other slow-moving vehicles have to wait for the ferry on the left lane and cars, trucks, buses and such other mechanised vehicles wait on the right side lane. A similar, but less strictly regulated, arrangement has been made for the other bank also. But the question is. whether this Is a cosmetic measure designed for the visit of the Prime Minister, or will 1t remain as a permanent feature.
On the eastern bank of the river, vehicles remain parked on the kutcha shoulders of the paved highway, so that vehicles have no space other than the paved portion to maneuver in. The congestion of parked vehicles so close to the paved portion Is because of unauthorised construction of shops and other establishments on either side. Some time ago a notice was published tn the local newspapers ordering the owners of these unauthorised structures to remove them; but no action has so far been taken yet.
Most of the travelling public suggest that all unauthorised construction should be removed from both sides of the Khulna-Mongla Road from the ferry ghat up to the petrol pump: and the entire width of the space in possession of the RHD must be paved. Additional
space must be acquired for the construction of bus, microbus and baby taxi terminals. Rickshaw stands must be designated as close to the ghat as possible, and also some utilities such as one or two restaurants and other shops for essentials must be constructed as near to the ghat as possible. There must also be arrangements for a first-aid station with twentyfour-hour service on both banks..
As regards revenue collection, till lately, the ghat used to be auctioned or tendered to the highest bidder. But now-a-days, the 1WTA is collecting the tolls directly. Rickshaws and rlckshaw-vans are charged Taka 2.00; private cars Taka 15.00: buses Taka 50.00 and trucks Taka 75.00. There arc intermediate rates for other types of vehicles, but there is no charge for pedestrians, although before the IWTA took over, pedestrians used to be charged 25 paisa whether they crossed by ferry or spent extra money for crossing the river by country boat. While most of the pedestrians cross by ferry, there are enough customers to help more than a hundred bpatmen to earn their livelihood from this ferry ghat.
Normally it costs one Taka to cross the river by country boat, and the boats generally take ten passengers; or else, one can charter a boat for crossing the river by paying five Takas provided your party consists of only one or two people.
Now. almost all the people who cross the river at Rupsa can afford to pay Taka 1.00 for the river crossing; as such, the IWTA may consider re-imposing the pedestrian crossing charge and fix it at the rate of one Taka per person, with exemptions for children under twelve. In this manner revenue earning for the ferry ghat could be enhanced, and the same may be spent on improving public facilities at the ghat and maintaining them at a good standard.
The metalled road on both banks of the river do not go as far as the ghat. There is a brick-soled portion between the end of the metalled road and the place where the ferry berths. Unlike the Aricha ghat, Rupsa is a permanent ghat; as such, some permanent arrangement must be made with a better standard of soling or even concreting those portions. In the present situation, the condition of these un-
evenly soled portions leads to several accidents every day.
It is hoped that the authorities concerned will take cognizance of the above grievances for their amelioration.
Anwar Ftroze.
Habu Khan Road, Khulna
BARI
Sir, In recent years, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has made significant contributions in the field of agricultural research and development. So far BARI has released several high yielding varieties of crops and designed and developed a number of agricultural Implements and practices.
Recentlv. BARI has evolved an HYV of lentil pulse named 'Utfata' which received certification of the National Seed Board on June 5 last for releasing all over the country. This pulse variety is early-ripening and its production is 20-25 per cent higher than any other existing varieties
Under the cooperation of the International Jute Organisation (IJO), BARI has innovated an Improved Bari UO seed-sowing machine . By changing the dispersion plate, seeds of rice, wheat, mustard
and all pulses can be sown in rows with the help of this new machine.
Besides research. BARI (s also offering training to agricultural scientists and other professionals.
M. Zahidul Haque Assistant Professor, Bangladesh Agricultural Institute. Dhaka
MRT: An appreciation
Sir. Many thanks to The Daily Star" for presenting verbatim report on important economic issues through Media Round Table (MRT) which was held on November 10 X
The Daily Star has proved successfully that modern Journalism is not only confined within reporting and editing but it has large responsibility towards national progress. Our national economic trends and
in that MRT Also thanks to The Dally Star that it has husbanded such kind of rich discussions by a galaxy of speaker*.
Rathan M. Chowdhury East Haxipara Dhaka