Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping, and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam spoke at Road Transport Division conference room about smooth Eid travel preparations. Photo : Ministry

DHAKA, March 5, 2026 (BSS) - Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping, and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam today said the administration, police, transport owners and workers, along with all relevant authorities, will remain more active than ever to ensure smooth management of this year's Eid travel.

"Nearly 15 million people will leave Dhaka during Eid. Managing the movement of such a huge number of passengers within a few days is a major challenge. Nevertheless, we will try our best to ensure a comfortable and smooth Eid journey," he told reporters after a discussion held at the conference room of the Road Transport and Highways Division today.

The meeting was organized as part of the government's highest-level of preparation to ensure safe and uninterrupted travel for passengers on roads, bridges, railways and waterways ahead of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

State Minister for Railways and the Road Transport and Highways Division Habibur Rashid and State Minister for Shipping and the Bridges Division Md Rajib Ahsan attended the meeting as special guests.

Replying to a question about extortion, the minister said there will be no scope for extortion or collection of excess fares on the roads.

"All concerned authorities have been given strict instructions in this regard. If any allegation of collecting fares beyond the fixed rate is found, exemplary action will be taken against those responsible," he said.

The minister also said mobile courts will be conducted against unfit and faulty vehicles, while alternative transport arrangements will be kept ready so that passengers can safely reach their destinations.

Police and other relevant departments will work round-the-clock to ensure smooth traffic movement on highways. "We will try our best with the resources we have. We hope this year's Eid travel will be completed smoothly," he added.

Speaking at the meeting, Chief Coordinator of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas said the Eid travel was successfully managed last time through the coordinated efforts of the administration, transport owners and workers, journalists and police.

"Utilizing past experiences, this year's Eid travel will be managed even better," he said, expressing hope that passengers' safety would be ensured through measures to prevent excess fare collection, ensure the safety of female passengers and take strict action against extortion.

The meeting was informed that repair and maintenance works on national highways, important corridors and key roads under Dhaka North and South City Corporations will be completed at least 10 days before Eid.

To ensure passenger safety, necessary CCTV cameras will be installed at the capital's Sadarghat, Mohakhali, Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Fulbaria bus terminals. These terminals will be connected with the control rooms of BRTA and police for central monitoring.

It was also decided that upazila, district and metropolitan road security committees will hold meetings before Eid to take necessary steps to ensure road safety and discipline.

Mobile courts will be conducted jointly by representatives of BRTA, police, city corporations, district administration, Roads and Highways Department, upazila administration and transport owners and workers' organizations to prevent excess fare collection and overloading of passengers.

Authorities will also remove temporary and floating markets beside roads and take strict action to stop passenger transport in goods vehicles.

To keep toll plazas free from congestion, ETC booths will remain operational round-the-clock. The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will operate special services on the occasion of Eid.

Except vehicles carrying essential commodities, movement of trucks, covered vans and lorries on highways will remain suspended for three days before Eid and three days after Eid.

CNG refuelling and filling stations will remain open round-the-clock for seven days before and five days after Eid, including the Eid day.

The meeting also urged authorities of garments and other industrial factories to grant holidays to workers in phases so that excessive passenger pressure does not build up at once.

A central control room will remain open for seven days-from three days before Eid to three days after Eid-to monitor and coordinate Eid travel. The control room's telephone number is 16107, while mobile numbers are 01550051606 and 01550056577.

Senior officials from government and private organizations, representatives of transport owners' associations and workers' organizations, and journalists from print and electronic media were also present.