Advisor Fouzul orders 12 Dhaka officers to serve in Brahmanbaria to tackle traffic issues

Raod transport advisor blames “poor” traffic management for gridlock on the Dhaka–Sylhet Highway

Road Transport Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan has ordered 12 ministry officials, including senior engineers, to leave their Dhaka offices and work from a temporary base in Brahmanbaria to improve conditions on the Dhaka–Sylhet Highway.

After inspecting the damaged section of the highway on Wednesday afternoon, he said steps will be taken in coordination with the home advisor to resolve the traffic congestion.

“If any of the assigned officers defy the directive or neglect their duties, they will be dismissed,” Fouzul warned.

Earlier in the day, the advisor himself was caught in severe traffic on his way to the site.

After being stuck for nearly two hours, he switched to a motorcycle to reach the Bishwa Road intersection, where he inspected the area.

After the visit, he identified “poor” traffic management as the main reason for the persistent gridlock.

“Highway police are not performing their duties properly,” he said. “Discipline must be restored first. If traffic rules were followed, there would not be such inconvenience --perhaps only a 30-minute delay.”

“To ensure smoother movement, we will install dividers along the road. Considering the monsoon, instructions have been given to concrete the stretch from Ashuganj roundabout to Sarail–Bishwa Road.”

“Plans are also under way to build a flyover at the Sarail–Bishwa Road intersection,” he added.

Fouzul said Bangladesh must reduce its overdependence on roads. “The main problem is not the road itself. Everyone wants new roads, but if construction continues like this, there will be no space left for homes, factories, or even cemeteries.

“We must increase the use of rail and waterways to ease the pressure on roads,” he added.