Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday called upon everyone concerned to make united efforts to check the spread of Covid-19 during travelling on Eid-ul-Azha.
“As Eid-ul-Azha is a religious festival, we will have to take decisions considering social and religious context,” he said at a meeting on what to do to ensure safe and smooth Eid journey on roads and highways, held at the BRTA headquarters in Banani, Dhaka.
Quader, also the general secretary of Awami League, joined the meeting online from his official residence.
He asked Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), law enforcement agencies and all other authorities concerned to take every cautionary measure and strictly enforce health guidelines, in order to contain the spread of the deadly virus during the journey marking Eid-ul-Azha.
“Law enforcement agencies, representatives of owners-workers and terminals, BRTA, city corporations and other stakeholders must play effective role to make passengers follow the health guidelines to ensure a safe journey,” he said.
Quader said vehicles running on the roads without fitness must be stopped, and movement of such vehicles should be controlled from root level.
Operation of heavy vehicles will remain halted three days before Eid, but emergency services and transportation of essential goods will stay out of the purview of the restriction, the road transport minister said.
Giving different directives, he said vehicles cannot be stopped on roads and highways without anything urgent, including refuelling, and cattle markets cannot be set up on the roads and highways and surrounding areas.
Mentioning BRTA mobile court’s constant monitoring on these matters, he said disinfectants must be used inside and on the outer surface of passenger vehicles after every single trip.
The minister also gave directives regarding what action should be taken against those who violate the government decisions or act against the people’s interest.
Quader requested the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to keep the CNG refilling stations open before and after Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals in the Muslim community.
Lawmaker Mashiur Rahman Ranga, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder, and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Chairman Md Ehsan-E-Elahi joined the meeting, among others, with Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Md Nazrul Islam in the chair.