Hasina inaugurated the BDF on Wednesday when, as a speaker at the forum, Zhang expressed his dismay at the slow traffic in the city. Zhang offered ADB support to help ease traffic congestion in the capital. According to a World Bank report, some 3.2 million manhour is wasted on Dhaka streets due to the traffic gridlock which is also considered as an obstacle to foreign investment. A 2013 research report prepared by the Roads and Highways Department said the slow traffic in Dhaka accounted for Tk 120 billion a year in losses. Between 1995 and 2005, streets in Dhaka City have been expanded by five percent compared with a 134 percent growth in traffic and 50 percent growth in population.

Source: bd News24 January 17, 2018 16:41 UTC