Minister Obaidul Quader halts construction on Dhaka-Tangail highway before Eid

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has ordered freezes on all construction works on the Dhaka-Tangail highway that witnesses a heavy rush of vehicles before the Eid.

The highway connects northern districts to the capital. Four of its lanes stretching from the Gazipur intersection to the Bangabandhu Bridge are under construction.

Construction will be on hold during the Eid holidays, Quader said while talking to reporters on Tuesday.

The official three-day holiday for the Eid-Ul-Fitr starts on Jun 25. The festival that follows a month of fasting will be celebrated on Jun 26 or Jun 27 in Bangladesh, depending on the sighting of the moon.

However, many are set to travel on Jun 23, a Friday. It means a two-day weekend will be added to the official holiday.

On Tuesday, Quader paid a visit to Targachh neighbourhood in Gazipur town where a portion of the highway, badly damaged by recent downpours, is under repair.

He assured that no heavy vehicles, except those carrying drugs, garments and perishable foods, will be allowed on roads during the holidays.

Calling on transport owners not to operate unfit vehicles, he said: “Unfit vehicles cause accidents. They usually break down in the middle of journeys and result in tailbacks.”

Quader also cautioned transport workers against reckless driving.

The minister asked youths to work as volunteers to help out the police to ensure safe Eid journeys.

Meticulous efforts were on to make Eid journeys as much comfortable as possible, said Quader, also general secretary of the ruling Awami League.