, April 25 -- Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Saturday urged authorities to prioritise public transport, rail and waterways over fossil fuel dependent private vehicles, stressing that such a shift is essential to ensure energy security and build a sustainable transport and communication system in the country.

The call came at a press conference titled "Energy Security and Sustainable Transport and Communication," held at the BIP conference hall in the capital.

The event was chaired by BIP President Dr Muhammad Ariful Islam, while the keynote paper was presented by the institute's General Secretary Prof Md Musleh Uddin Hasan, with Joint Secretary Kazi Salman Hossain moderating the session.

Presenting the keynote, Prof Hasan sa...