Field level police have been instructed not to stop or impede vehicles carrying goods on the highways or roads without any specific complaint or information. The instruction was given to field level police officers during a virtual meeting on monthly crime review for the month of February, 2022 held at the police headquarters on Tuesday, with Additional IG (Crime and Operations) M Khurshid Hossain in the chair.  The meeting was attended by all the Metropolitan Commissioners, Range DIGs and District Police Superintendents. Saying that Police are in a tough position to curb extortion during the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid, Additional IG M Khurshid Hossain said that "no vehicle carrying goods on the highway or road can be stopped without any specific complaint or information." During the meeting, Additional IG M Khurshid Hossain also said that security of shopping malls and markets have to  be strengthened with a focus on Ramadan and Eid. ALso read: IGP urges police members to stay away from crime He emphasized on strengthening traffic management to keep the traffic flowing normally. The meeting emphasized bringing the police service to the doorsteps of the people by making the beat policing activities more dynamic. At the meeting, AIG (Crime East) Md. Jalal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury highlighted the overall crime situation for the month of February ,2022. The meeting was informed that cases related to robbery, murder, speedy trial, riot, kidnapping, police assault, burglary and theft decreased in February, 2022 as compared to January , 2022.  However, the number of cases of repression on women and children increased in February, 2022 as compared to January, 2022.  On the other hand, women and child repression related cases are much less than in February, 2021. Besides, the number of recovered related cases has increased in February, 2022 as compared to January, 2022.  It was mentioned in the meeting that the number of cases has decreased in the month of February 2022 as compared to the previous month of January, 2022.

The Highways Bill, 2021 was passed  in Parliament on Saturday, aiming to have a full-fledged law replacing the century-old one. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote. There is a law of 1925 (Highways Act, 1925), having only five clauses, which are inadequate to deal with maintenance, management and construction (of highways). The provisions of punishment have also been kept in the case of violation of the proposed law. The punishment will be a maximum two years’ jail or Tk 5,000-Tk 5 lakh fine. As per the Bill, the government will decide which vehicles will run  on which roads or highways, which will be declared as expressway along with highways. How these will be operated and from which roads toll will be collected. READ: Rowshan Ara made head of JS committee on Road Transport Ministry As per the Bill, the government or any individual given responsibility by the government will develop the highways, repair or maintain those, highways related sewerage system and construct drains, culverts and  bridges. It said that after paying the fixed charges of the government, semi government and private service providers can set up their utility connections. It said that on the highways there will be no scope to keep crops or something others for drying up those. The Bill stated that without taking prior permission no billboard, signboard, gate or like this will be set up on the highways. READ: Rangpur & Rajshahi may see drizzle in next 24 hours Slow speed vehicles have to use the specific lanes, it said. The bill mentioned about taking steps to set up specific and safe places for people with disability, children and elderly persons.

Two men were crushed to death by a speeding bus when they fell off their bike after ramming a pillar of an under-construction flyover at the busy Pangsha College junction on the Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Muktar Hossain, 38, son of late Abul Hossain of the Housing Area of Kushtia Sadar upazila, and Rakib Uddin, 40, son of late Khaleq Sheikh of South State of the upazila. Read: 3 die in Sirajganj road crash The accident occurred in the small hours of Thursday when Rakib and Muktar were on their way to Dhaka from Kushtia. Eye-witnesses said that the bike crashed into the under-construction flyover at a high speed. Both the riders lost balance and fell from the two-wheeler. Unfortunately, they came under the wheels of the bus and died. Sub-inspector Atiqul of Pangsha Highway Police Station said the duo died on the spot. "Their bodies have been handed over to their family members," he said. Road accidents in Bangladesh At least 2,329 people, including 291 women and 381 children, were killed and 4,361 others injured in 2,159 road accidents across the country in the first half of this year, according to a report published in July. Read:2 army personnel killed in Sirajganj road crash It says the road accidents occurred on various highways, national, inter-district and regional roads between January 1 and June 30 across the country. Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF), a platform of journalists, prepared the report based on news items carried by 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and agencies.

Be it the development of high-speed carriageways or wayside amenities, investment in highway infrastructure is always considered crucial to the economic development of any nation. While highways strengthen the road network across a country by facilitating the smooth and fast movement of goods and people from one part to another, wayside amenities like rest areas for drivers and commuters help promote road safety by curbing accidents due to incessant driving. On the lines of developed countries like the US and Australia, Bangladesh is also all set to market its highways as a global brand -- by setting up what it claims model refuelling stations with spiffier rest areas to welcome motorists looking for a break from the road. Also read: Summit signs MoU with Commonwealth LNG to help supply fuel to Bangladesh According to State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, the initiative comes at a time when the government is developing a number of high-speed corridors across Bangladesh, including the Dhaka-Khulna highway.

Bangladesh witnessed a sharp rise in the number of road crashes and casualties in August last as 379 people lost their lives on the country’s perilous roads in 302 accidents.

Three highways will be upgraded into four-lane ones in the current fiscal,  aiming to improve the national transport system and infrastructures for better road communications across the country .

Benapole, Sept 19 (UNB) – The banned three-wheelers plying the Benapole-Jashore and Navaron-Satkhira highways are increasing risks of accidents.