Quader hints at rough Eid rides on flood-battered roads

The rundown roads and highways following heavy rains, ensuring smooth journeys for Eid holidaymakers is going to be a challenging task, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said.

A second spell of floods this monsoon has breached 280 dams, damaged 2,789 kilometres of roads and 123 bridges and culverts throughout Bangladesh, according to the Department of Disaster Management or DDM.

Incessant rain and onrush of water from the upstream Indian state of Assam have marooned 41 points on highways, the minister said on Sunday.

“Up to three kilometres of roads have gone under water at 23 points, the rest 18 points have been washed away in the northern zone.

“Fixing all those immediately is a challenging task,” he said.

Muslims in Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-Ul-Azha by sacrificing cattle on Sept 1 or 2, depending on the sighting of moon.

The rush of holidaymakers is expected to pick up from Aug 27.

“Surface of the roads can be flattened with bitumen if there is no more rain. Otherwise, it’s going to be really difficult to make the roads ready for the load,” said Quader, also the General Secretary of the ruling Awami League.

He was briefing the media at the Secretariat on the government’s measures taken to ease Eid journeys.

Engineers are working 24/7 to improve the road conditions, he said.

Fuel stations will remain open round-the-clock for 10 days starting five days ahead of Eid. Trucks, lorries and covered vans will not operate for three days before Eid unless they are carrying garments, perishable products and cattle, said the minister.

Garment owners have been asked to arrange leaves for workers in phases to ease the rush, he added.

The minister said cattle markets will not be set up on roads and highways.

The death toll in floods has gone up to 98 while more than 5.8 million people are suffering in 30 districts, as per the data of DDM.