The filling stations will remain open round the clock for thirteen days —five days before and seven days after the Eid-ul-Fitr including the Eid day — to ensure a smoother journey for travellers.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told this to reporters after a meeting at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) head office in Dhaka on Sunday.
The movement of trucks on highways will remain suspended for three days before Eid, he said, adding that homebound people can travel on highways with motorcycles during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
However, the ban on motorcycle movement on the Padma Bridge will remain in force, the minister added.
The government imposed the motorcycle ban on the Padma Bridge from 6am on June 27 last year till further notice after two people died in an accident between two motorbikes on the bridge on June 26 after it was opened the same day.
‘Make Eid journey smooth’
At the meeting, Obaidul Quader asked all concerned, including public and private agencies, to work sincerely to make the people's Eid journey smooth.
"You should perform your responsibilities properly so that people can reach their homes safely. This is my earnest request to you," he said.
To ensure safe and smooth travels of passengers on roads and highways ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr, the meeting was organised at the BRTA head office at Banani.
Observing that bringing discipline in roads and transport sector is one of the major challenges, Quader, also the Awami League general secretary, said they have plans to upgrade roads and highways into six lanes or eight lanes at many other places.
"Once discipline is ensured, traffic congestion and road accidents will decline. Now if you think that your responsibility is over after holding conventional meetings and delivering speech...then discipline cannot be restored."
Highlighting the experience of traffic congestion in Nabinagar and Chandra, the minister said a whole night was needed to pass the road there in the past but the situation has changed now.
"There are unfit vehicles on roads. Drivers fall asleep while driving. This is how time is wasted," he added.
Asking the VIPs to abide by laws, Quader said, "Many of our VIPs travel on the wrong side of roads during Eid. If they see a little traffic congestion, they go to wrong sides. If the VIPs do not follow traffic rules, what is the fault of the ordinary people?"
