Road Transport, Shipping and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Friday said the government aims to ensure a smooth, comfortable and hassle-free Eid journey this year with public cooperation and favourable weather conditions.
He said transporting 15 million people and 10 million sacrificial animals within just three days remains a major challenge ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
“We will try to overcome the challenges. If everyone cooperates, people remain aware and no natural disaster occurs, we hope to make this year’s Eid journey comfortable,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while responding to reporters’ questions after distributing cheques worth Tk489 million among families of 119 road accident victims in Cumilla.
The cheques came from the BRTA Trustee Board and Bangladesh Railway.
Rabiul Alam said the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway remains the country’s most important highway and currently carries traffic beyond its capacity.
“The pressure on the existing four-lane highway indicates the need for a 10-lane road,” he said.
He said the government is working to expand the route with eight traffic lanes and two service lanes.
State Minister for the Road Transport and Highways Division and Ministry of Railways Habibur Rashid, Cumilla-6 lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury and senior officials attended the programme.
FP/MI