Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has claimed that this year’s Eid travel went relatively smoothly, despite a few accidents, and announced stricter safety measures for buses boarding ferries to prevent future tragedies.
He made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting at the Secretariat aimed at strengthening government efforts to prevent road accidents and improve overall road safety.
The minister said around one and a half crores people left Dhaka over the three days ahead of Eid, noting that journeys were safer and more comfortable compared to previous years.
“In the past, long congestion and transport shortages often forced people to spend Eid on the road. This time, more people were able to reach home safely,” he said.
However, the minister expressed sorrow over casualties caused by two major accidents and other incidents, stressing that “no one wants even a single life to be lost.”
According to official data from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Roads and Highways Department, 170 people died over the Eid period: 47 on highways, 28 in waterway incidents, 17 in railway accidents, and the remainder on local roads. While any loss of life is unacceptable, the figure shows improvement from last year’s 187 deaths, said the minister.
Following the accidents, disciplinary and legal action has been taken, including dismissal and arrest of two railway guards and removal of their supervising sub-assistant engineer.
Authorities have also sought explanations from transport companies involved in recent mishaps, warning that fleet registrations or route permits could be revoked if safety standards are not met.
In a related move to prevent waterway accidents, the minister issued a strict directive requiring all passengers to disembark from buses before boarding ferries.
He emphasised that buses carrying passengers would no longer be allowed onto ferries, and mandatory railings must be installed on all vessels to reduce accident risks caused by waves or vehicle movement.
“The safety of our citizens is our responsibility. Ferry accidents with passenger-filled buses often lead to heavy casualties. These measures are essential to prevent such tragedies,” Sheikh Rabiul Alam said.
Senior officials from relevant ministries and law enforcement agencies attended the meeting, which focused on improving overall transport safety across the country.
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