DHAKA, Sept 14, 2021 (BSS) - The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) and Roads and Highways Department (RHD) held a virtual Knowledge Sharing Webinar on "Strengthening Road Maintenance & Management System of Bangladesh" today via Zoom.

   The event was graced by Kim Taehyun, Deputy Country Director, KOICA Bangladesh Office, A.K.M. Manir Hossain Pathan, Additional Chief Engineer, Roads and Highways Department and Farjana Jesmin, Deputy Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Division, among other dignified officials of the government, said a KOICA press release.

   At present, Bangladesh is undertaking various major projects to develop its infrastructure, namely, SASEC Road Connectivity Project, SASEC Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Improvement Project, Sylhet-Tamabil Project, Padma Bridge Project, MRT Project, BRT Project, Cross-Border Infrastructure Project, Western Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project, etc.

   However, challenges such as, establishing road connectivity with major development points, lack of data on structural bridge health monitoring, integrated traffic management, protecting network from natural disasters and the like still exist that calls for attention.

   In this light, KOICA has supported a 9-day long online fellowship program titled 'Strengthening and Building the Capacity of Roads & Highways Department Focusing on Road Maintenance and Management System Issues' which is the 3rd year of KOICA's country-focused fellowship program targeting total 22 officials of RTHD and RHD conducted by Korea Expressway Corporation in Korea.

   The main goal was to develop and build capacity for road operation and traffic management based on the expressway management system of Korea Express Corporation.

   It also focused on fostering road management by sharing knowledge and advanced technologies of Korea.

   A detailed presentation on lessons learnt from the training program was highlighted by officials of RTHD and RHD along with how concepts are formulated for composing a feasible action plan that can be implemented to strengthen national strategy for development of roads maintenance of Bangladesh.

  Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Engineer, Roads and Highways Department appreciated KOICA's support for holding an online training along with the dissemination of knowledge of first-hand Korean know-how techniques to a larger key audience involved on the ground.