Speakers at a seminar on ’E-conomic Potential of the Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development (ALTID) Project’ yesterday stressed the need for a political consensus and a specific national action plan to reap the fullest advantage of the project.

The seminar, jointly organised by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), was inaugurated by Minister for Communications Anwar Hossain Manju at a city hotel.

The seminar was spread over three technical sessions, chaired by Wajiul Islam. Secretary. Statistics Division of Communications Ministry. Prof Rehman Sobhan. Executive Chairman of CpD and Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury of BUET.

The salient features of the recommendations adopted at the seminar include :

Political consensus and specific national action plan to reap the fullest advantage of the ALTID project.

Comparative study of Mongla and Chittagong ports from the point of view of Nepalese transit.

The route passing through Sylhet-Astagram-KarimganJ is more suitable for the Asian Highway than the Tamabll road between Bangladesh and India.

Debate over having the exit through Sylhet or Chittagong for the Asian Highway should be ended. To start with, the Sylhet route should be considered immediately and Chittagong route could be taken up subsequently.

Stand alone railway bridge -over the river Jamuna.

Inaugurating the seminar. Anwar Hossain Manju said. 'The whole initiative is aimed at providing a framework for

reciprocal understanding and cooperation that will enhance the activities for unhindered international flow of trade and tourism.

"It is important to learn to share infrastructure facilities with others to bring about mutual benefits of all . . The role of road, railway and other modes of transportation in this context will remain the focal point.

"If any country does not agree with this concept, it will be automatically isolated from the process of globalisation."

Among the others who spoke at the Inaugural session are: Syed Rezaul Hayat. Secretary. Ministry of Communications. Dr-Q K Ahmed of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad. Dr Rah-matqAah. ‘Directqr. TCTD. ESCAP and Hasanul Haq Inu of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.