Road Transport, Shipping and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Friday expressed optimism that this year’s Eid-ul-Azha travel could remain smooth and manageable if people cooperate and weather conditions remain favourable.
Speaking to reporters in Cumilla after distributing financial assistance to families of road accident victims, the minister acknowledged that handling the massive holiday movement across the country would be a major logistical challenge.
According to him, nearly 1.5 crore passengers and around 1 crore sacrificial animals are expected to travel within a short span of three days ahead of Eid.
“We are facing a significant challenge, but we will try our best to manage the situation,” he said. “If everyone remains aware, cooperates with authorities and no natural disaster occurs, we hope people will be able to travel comfortably during Eid.”
The minister attended a cheque distribution programme where Tk48.9 crore was handed over to the families of 119 victims of road accidents. The financial assistance was provided through the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Trustee Board and Bangladesh Railway.
During the programme, Rabiul Alam also spoke about the growing pressure on the country’s transport infrastructure, especially the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, which he described as the nation’s most important road corridor.
He said the highway is currently carrying traffic beyond its intended capacity, reflecting the urgent need for further expansion.
“The volume of vehicles on the existing four-lane highway clearly shows that a much larger road network is necessary,” he said, adding that authorities are planning to upgrade the route into an expanded corridor with eight main traffic lanes and two additional service lanes.
The minister said the government is taking various measures to improve traffic management and ensure safer movement during the Eid rush.
State Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Railways Habibur Rashid, Cumilla-6 Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury and senior government officials were also present at the event.
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