DHAKA: The authorities of Bashundhara Cement, one of the concerns of the country’s largest business conglomerate Bashundhara Group (BG), have showed their keen interest to assist in research for establishing durable roads and highways with concrete across the country.

Welcoming the proposal of Bashundhara Group, the officials of Bangladesh Roads and Highway said the message will be conveyed to the authorities concerned of the government.

The seminar on ‘durable roads and highways for Bangladesh’ was organized by Roads and Highways Engineers Association in cooperation with Bashundhara Cement starting at 11:00am on Monday at Conference Room of Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Department in city’s Tejgaon area.

Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Feroz Iqbal was present as chief guest at the seminar while the department’s executive engineer Santosh Kumar Roy presented keynote at the seminar.

Feroz Iqbal said that research on using concrete in constructing roads and highways is essential but the department cannot research due to their limitations.

He also appreciated the keen interest of Bashundhara Group and proposal in this regard.

Bashundhara Cement General Manager (Sales) Khandaker Kingshuk Hossain said that they have already taken initiatives to research in this regard.

If we get opportunity to work as a research partner, we will play a vital role, he assured the audience.

However, Bashundhara Cement Assistant General Manager Saroj Kumar Barua explained different aspects and technological opportunities of Bashundhara Cement at the seminar, chaired by Roads and Highways Engineers’ Association President Aftab Hossain Khan.

Aftab Hossain said that they are now focusing on building durable roads in a cost effective way. A research is needed in this regard, he added.

Engineer Santosh Kumar Roy hoped that the cost of establishing roads and highway will be minimized and risk of road accidents will be reduced, if concrete is used for constructing roads.

However, the speakers put emphasize on using concrete instead of bitumen in constructing roads and highways to get a better outcome.

BDST: 1737 HRS, DEC 29, 2014

** Bashundhara Cement organizes seminar