Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to relocate Dhaka’s four major inter-district bus terminals to the city outskirts in a move aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion, officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Monday.
The directive came during a high-level meeting on traffic congestion mitigation and modernization of Dhaka’s traffic management system held at the Cabinet Division in the secretariat.
Senior officials of the relevant ministries, however, said they had not yet received any formal written instructions, leaving uncertainty over implementation timelines.
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Hasan Shiplu said the Prime Minister ordered the “rapid relocation” of the terminals to reduce pressure on the capital’s road network.
“The Prime Minister has instructed authorities to quickly relocate four inter-district bus terminals outside Dhaka as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion,” Shiplu said.
The terminals identified for relocation are:
- Fulbaria-Gulistan Bus Terminal to Keraniganj
- Gabtoli Bus Terminal to Hemayetpur
- Sayedabad-Jatrabari Bus Terminal to Kanchpur
- Mohakhali Bus Terminal to be temporarily shifted to Dhaka’s eastern zone before a permanent relocation near Tongi
Shiplu also said the Prime Minister emphasized removing scattered bus counters across the city and relocating them to designated areas.
The move comes amid worsening traffic congestion in Dhaka, particularly around major transport hubs where long-distance buses contribute to daily gridlock.
Despite the PMO briefing, officials from key transport agencies were cautious about confirming implementation details.
Repeated attempts to contact the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry went unanswered.
Senior officials at the Road Transport and Highways Division, wishing to be anynymous, said they were aware of discussions but had not received any formal directive.
“We have heard discussions took place, but we have not yet received any official written instruction,” a senior official said.
Officials from the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) also said they were awaiting formal instructions before commenting.
The proposal to relocate Dhaka’s inter-district bus terminals has long been part of urban transport planning aimed at reducing pressure on entry points such as Gabtoli, Mohakhali, Gulistan, and Jatrabari.
Urban planners say keeping major terminals inside densely populated areas worsens congestion as buses frequently enter central Dhaka for boarding and unloading.
Transport analysts, however, say success will depend on the development of integrated feeder transport systems and passenger connectivity at new terminal sites.
“Relocation alone will not solve Dhaka’s transport crisis unless there is proper public transport integration,” a transport expert said.
The meeting also reviewed plans to modernize Dhaka’s traffic management system, including AI-powered cameras, intelligent traffic signaling, and digital monitoring tools.
According to Hasan Shiplu, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over early results from AI-assisted traffic signaling and directed officials to expand its use.
Monday’s meeting was the third high-level session chaired by the prime minister on Dhaka’s traffic congestion and transport management.
