The first meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Government of Bangladesh’s Roads and Highways Department (RHD) was held in the Sarak Bhaban, Dhaka, on 21st March 2022. The formation of the TWG is facilitated under the World Bank-funded and Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES)-implemented Component 1 of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CARE) for South Asia Project, which targets to deploy by 2023/2024, an enhanced Online Road Network and Transport decision support system (DSS), for climate-informing transport plans, decisions and investments for resilience.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Md. Rezaul Alam, Superintending Engineer, Social and Environment Circle, RHD, in the presence of 9 TWG members from different divisions of RHD and members of RIMES Team. In view of its role for guiding the implementation of transport sector-related activities under CARE Component 1, the TWG’s terms of reference (ToR) includes identification of salient components, data requirements and availability, and overall design of the transport sector DSS; the TWG’s inputs and guidance will build on the on-going assessment of capacities and gaps in applying climate information by relevant sectoral stakeholders. The first meeting of the TWG was organized to sensitize its members of CARE Project activities relevant to the transport sector, including the ongoing user needs assessment, and the key processes towards the DSS development. The TWG is expected to support the co-production of the DSS from identifying stakeholders’ needs, and design and delivery of the system. Dr. Abdullah Al Mamum, Additional Chief Engineer, RHD is the Convener of the TWG.
Mr. Raihanul Haque Khan, Country Coordinator, RIMES presented the background, ongoing activities, probable framework of the DSS, and work plan. The TWG members put forward data and analytics requirements in the DSS for guiding operational, strategic and development-oriented plans and decisions – these include the analysis of land use pattern change around road influence area, high water level data for all major rivers in the country, and risks associated with transport-relevant climate-related hazards, among others. Key recommendations, from the TWG, in going forward with the DSS development are i) multi-modal approach considering cross-cutting climate-related issues in the entire transportation system; ii) identification and prioritization of decisions that the DSS will support, for populating data requirements; and iii) preparation of concept note on the DSS development to be undertaken within the CARE Project.
RIMES has, in the pipeline, a series of meetings for mapping available pertinent data at RHD, and preparation of concept note on the DSS, for responding to stakeholders requirements.