Ensuring smooth Eid travel in short time a major challenge: Transport Minister

Road transport and bridges minister Rabiul Alam has said ensuring uninterrupted Eid travel remains a major challenge due to the transportation of a huge number of passengers and sacrificial animals within a very short period.

However, the minister expressed hope that a comfortable Eid journey could be ensured this year with public cooperation and favourable weather conditions.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after attending a cheque distribution programme for victims of road accidents at the Cumilla District Shilpakala Academy on Friday (May 22).

“Within just three days, nearly 25 million people and sacrificial animals have to be transported. It is a major challenge for our infrastructure and transport system. That is why making Eid travel completely smooth and comfortable becomes difficult,” the minister said.

“However, if people remain aware and the weather remains favourable, we hope to ensure a comfortable Eid journey this time,” he added.

The minister said the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway experiences the highest traffic pressure among the country’s major highways and is therefore receiving the highest priority.

He said the government plans to upgrade around 400 kilometres of highways to eight lanes under a master plan targeted for implementation by 2031. In addition, nearly 600 kilometres of roads will be expanded to six lanes and around 1,000 kilometres to four lanes.

Rabiul Alam also said that on average around 4,500 people die in road accidents every year in Bangladesh.

According to him, the major causes behind road accidents include unskilled drivers, unfit vehicles and lack of public awareness.

He said the government has taken various initiatives to reduce road accidents and will continue supporting the families of those killed or injured.

At the programme, compensation cheques worth Tk 489 million were distributed among families affected by road accidents in Cumilla district through initiatives by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Trustee Board and Bangladesh Railway.

Families of 86 deceased victims and 33 injured persons received financial assistance.

Among others present at the event were State Minister Habibur Rashid, Cumilla Sadar lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Md Ziaul Haque, and BRTA Chairman Mohammad Habibur Rahman, along with officials from the road transport division, railway, highway police and district administration.