Transportation of a large number of passengers and sacrificial animals in a short period of time is a big challenge ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. However, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Rabiul Alam has expressed hope that this year's Eid journey will be comfortable, though challenging.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at a program to distribute compensation checks to the families of those killed and injured in road accidents held at the Cumilla District Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Friday.
The program was organized by the Cumilla District Administration and BRTA Comilla Circle, under the joint initiative of the BRTA Trustee Board and Bangladesh Railways.
The minister said, “Transporting about 25 million people and sacrificial animals in a short period of time is a huge challenge. Due to the limitations of the country's infrastructure and transportation system, the Eid journey becomes difficult every year. However, with everyone's cooperation, public awareness and favorable weather, it will be possible to make this year's Eid journey smooth and comfortable.”
He said that work is underway to upgrade the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway to 10 lanes. The government is also working on the development of other important highways in the country.
Regarding road accidents, the minister said, “On an average, about 4,500 people lose their lives in road accidents every year. Inefficiency of drivers, unfit vehicles and lack of awareness of the people are the main reasons for accidents. The government has taken various initiatives to reduce these.”
State Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid MP said that advance measures are being taken by identifying accident-prone places and causes. As a result, the rate of road accidents is also decreasing.
At the event, compensation checks worth a total of Tk 4.89 crore were distributed among the families of 86 people killed and 33 injured people in road accidents. A total of Tk 4.30 crore was provided to the families of the deceased and Tk 5 lakh each and a total of Tk 5.9 lakh to the injured.
At the same time, Cumilla-6 constituency MP Md. Monirul Haque Chowdhury raised questions about the actual number of road fatalities and the cost of construction on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.
Also present at the event were Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Department Dr. Md. Ziaul Haque, BRTA chairman Mohammad Habibur Rahman and senior officials of the district administration.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
