Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Tuesday said inter-district bus terminals in the capital will not be relocated immediately, adding that buses will instead be kept at depots outside the city and allowed to enter terminals shortly before departure.
“Buses will be kept at designated depots outside the city and will come to the terminals only shortly before departure. Terminals are meant for passenger boarding, not long-hour parking,” he said while speaking at a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in Dhaka.
His comments came a day after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed the authorities concerned to relocate Dhaka’s four major inter-district bus terminals – Fulbaria-Gulistan, Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Sayedabad-Jatrabari – swiftly to help ease chronic traffic congestion.
Explaining the government's plan, Rabiul said many buses currently remain parked at terminals for 12 to 24 hours, contributing to traffic congestion and operational disorder.
“We want buses to stay at designated depots and come to the terminals only shortly before the departure. Terminals should be used for passenger boarding, not for parking buses for hours or days,” he said.
The Mohakhali Bus Terminal will remain operational for the time being, although a decision has been taken to acquire around 50 bighas of land at Uttara for its permanent relocation, the minister said.
“Buses scheduled for departure will continue to use Mohakhali terminal, but vehicles waiting for their next trips for extended periods will not be allowed to remain there,” he said.
An interim depot site has already been identified near the Purbachal Expressway (300-foot Road) where buses can be stationed until their scheduled departures, he said.
Referring to the Sayedabad Bus Terminal, Rabiul said preparations are underway to establish a temporary facility at Kanchpur in Narayanganj.
“The terminal will eventually be shifted there once adequate facilities are in place. Until then, buses will use the nearby depot and only enter the terminal during designated departure times,” he added.
The minister stressed that all major terminals will eventually be relocated, but the process will be carried out gradually rather than overnight.
Responding to a question regarding the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to China and the possibility of signing agreements, he said discussions will focus on projects that serve Bangladesh’s national interests and economic priorities.
“China has shown interest in investing in railways, roads and waterways. We are reviewing a number of proposals and evaluating them based on their economic viability, development benefits and alignment with Bangladesh’s interests,” Rabiul said.
Several infrastructure projects have already attracted positive interest from China and that any future agreements will be concluded only if they safeguard the interests and benefits of both countries, he added. “We will consider proposals that contribute to our development goals, strengthen technological capacity and ensure mutual benefits.”