The government issued a ban on the movement of non-mechanised vehicles, including CNG-run auto-rickshaw and auto-tempo, on 22 major highways across the country.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader presented the list of the highways at a view-exchange with journalists at Companiganj in Noakhali yesterday morning.
He said the decision was taken to stop recurrence of road accidents and restore discipline on the movement of vehicles on the highways.
But this ban will not be applicable to other roads including regional and district level roads, the minister added.
Quader said the construction work of by-lane on the major highways including Dhaka-Chittagong will begin next year for the running of slow-moving vehicles.
The highways are: Kanchpur Bridge (Dhaka)-Madanpur-Comilla-Feni-Chittagong-Ramu (Cox’s Bazar), Kanchpur Bridge (Dhaka)-Belanagar (Narsingdi)-Bhoirab-Sarail-Madhabpur-Mirpur-Sherpur-Sylhet bypass, Joydebpur Chourasta-Mymensing bypass point, Joydebpur Chourasta-Tangail-Jamalpur, Aminbazar Bridge (Dhaka)-Manikgonj-Paturia Ghat-Khaerchar Ghat-Kashinathpur-Hatikamrul-Bogra bypass-Rangpur bypass-Sayedpur bypass-Dashmile (Dinajpur)-Thakurgaon-Panchagarh-Banglabandha, Kashinathpur (Pabna)-Pabna bypass-Dashuria-Natore bypass-Rajshahi bypass-Nawabgonj-Sonamosjid-Baliadighi Sthalabandar, Doulatdia-Faridpur (Rajbari Mor)-Magura-Jenaidah bypass-Jessore bypass- Khulna City bypass-Mongla, Tegharia Mor (Dhaka)-Maowa-keorakandi-Bhanga-Barishal-Patuakhali,
Moynamoti(Comilla)-Bhrammanbaria bypass-Sarail, Madanpur-Bhulta-Bhirerbazar-Bhogra-Kodda(Dhaka bypass), Alenga-Nolka-Hatikomrul, Bogra-Natore, Rangpur-Barabari-Kurigram, Hatikomrul-Bonpara, Barabari-Lalmonirhat-Burimari, Nabinagar-EPZ-Chandra, Jessore-Magura, Jenaidah-Kustia-Dashuria, Chanchra Mor Jessore)-Benapole, Bhanga- Faridpur bypass-Rajbari Mor, Bhanga-Bhatiapara-Mollarhat-Fakirhat-Noapara, Bhatiapara-Kalna-Lohagora-Narail-Jessore.
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.