Won’t allow cattle market on roads, ‘unfit’ vehicles in Dhaka: Quader

The government has ordered police not to allow setting up of cattle markets along the highways during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja to ensure a hassle-free movement of holidaymakers, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader has said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 Sept 2014, 11:15 AM
Updated : 13 Sept 2014, 11:15 AM

Unfit vehicles would also be barred from entering Dhaka to avoid gridlocks during that period, he said on Saturday.

“We have started roadworks ahead of the festivals,” Quader told a programme, organised to raise awareness on traffic rules in Dhaka.

He said he had talked to organisations of vehicle owners’ and workers’ to make sure unfit vehicles were not used to transport sacrificial animals.

“When a vehicle transporting animals gets stranded on the road, it causes gridlocks. This is why we’ve said that no unfit vehicles will either enter or leave Dhaka,” the minister said.

Moreover, he said, the highway police had been directed not to allow cattle markets along the road.

“These abruptly set up markets also cause traffic jams. And so, if a market is set up anywhere, it will have to be properly fenced,” he said.

Eid holidays are expected to start from Oct 5 based on moon sighting while holidays for the biggest Hindu festival, the Durga Puja, will start from Oct 4.

Quader hoped the people would be able to commute “trouble-free” like in the previous Eid.

“We took precautions since there will be more pressure on the road during this holiday period,” he said.