Mentioning reckless running of three wheelers and small vehicles are the main reasons behind road accidents on highways, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the government would not compromise over decision of three-wheeler ban on highways.
“We have imposed ban on plying of three wheelers on only 3,000 kilometres highways across the country while the vehicles can run rest of 250,000 kilometres roads in the country. We will construct separate by-lanes for three wheelers and small vehicles in future,” he said.
Claiming road accidents on highways have reduced remarkably after the Awami League-led government assumed power, the minister said discipline was needed for transport sector to get cherished results of government’s mega projects, including Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway, across the country.
The government is determined to stop plying of three-wheelers on highways to lessen road accidents and loss of lives and properties, the minister said while addressing a programme arranged on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal’s birth anniversary. Organised by the Chittagong Abahani Limited the programme was held at a hotel in the port city.
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, Awami League Lawmaker Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, Patiya Constituency and Chittagong Abahani Limited’s Football Committee President Talukdar Ruhul Amin also spoke at the programme.
The minister said Sheikh Kamal, founder of sports organisation Abahani Club Limited, was the role model for youths and organisers.
Answering a question, Quader said lives of both drivers and commuters would be saved by this decision.
Amid sharp rise in road fatalities, the government clamped a ban on the movement of three-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and non-motorised vehicles on highways across the country with effect from August 1.
Protesting the decision, three wheelers owner-drivers called dawn-to-dusk strike in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Luxmipur, Noakhali and Feni districts on August 13.
Over 600 such vehicles have been fined and cases filed against 52 vehicles across the country from August 1 to 3 for plying on the highways, according to highway police.