Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced a series of security and traffic management measures including strict action against unfit buses to ensure smooth and safe travel from the capital to different districts ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
“No unfit buses will be allowed on the roads. Immediate action will be taken if such vehicles are found operating,” Acting DMP Commissioner Md Sarwar said at a meeting with transport owners and workers at Gabtoli bus terminal aimed at ensuring smooth and extortion-free Eid travel.
Sarwar urged transport owners and workers not to operate dilapidated buses, noting that a single breakdown on busy routes often leads to severe traffic congestion.
Carrying passengers on bus rooftops, overspeeding and allowing sick or unfit drivers to operate vehicles will also be strictly prohibited, he said.
To assist passengers, help desks will be set up at major bus terminals where fare charts and bus schedules must be displayed.
Authorities will take immediate action if allegations of overcharging, ticket black-marketing or passenger harassment are received, he added.
The acting DMP Commissioner said an additional 800 to 900 traffic police members will be deployed at bus terminals, launch terminals and railway stations during the Eid period.
Security at transport hubs will also be strengthened with the deployment of plainclothes police, members of the Detective Branch, the Counter Terrorism Unit, SWAT teams and dog squads.
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Mobile court teams led by magistrates will remain active to enforce traffic rules.
Sarwar said the government has declared March 18 an additional public holiday to ease travel pressure, allowing people to leave the capital in a staggered manner.
He said between 1.5 million and 2 million people are expected to leave Dhaka daily between March 16 and 20 while more than 10 million people may travel from the capital to other districts during the Eid holidays.
Meanwhile, around 2 to 2.5 million people are expected to enter the city.
To ease congestion, the movement of trucks, lorries and covered vans on highways will be restricted for a period before and after Eid.
Unnecessary cargo trucks from the port city of Chattogram will also be barred from using the highways during the peak travel period.
Sarwar stressed the need for coordinated efforts among police, transport owners, workers and other relevant agencies to ensure safe and comfortable Eid travel for passengers.
Among others, MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, President ofDhaka Road Transport Owners Association Saiful Alam Baten and Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Abdur Rahim Box Dudu were present at the meeting.