The Saidabad bus terminal in Dhaka will no longer be used as a garage or dumping station for buses, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam has said.
The terminal will be operated solely as a passenger boarding and alighting point, modeled after Kamalapur Railway Station. Apart from one or two buses required for service, no other buses will be allowed to remain inside the terminal, the administrator said.
He was speaking to journalists after inspecting the terminal and conducting an eviction drive at 11am on Thursday.
Salam said, “For a long time, Saidabad bus terminal had deviated from its original purpose and turned into a garage and dumping station. To change this situation, initiatives have been taken to restore discipline at the terminal. Transport owners and workers have been given time until 15 July to bring all operations under a systematic framework.”
He also said that like Kamalapur Railway Station, buses will arrive at the bus stand, passengers will get on and off, and then the buses will leave for their destinations.
“Except for one or two buses needed for passenger service, no other buses will be allowed to stay inside. Passengers traveling outside Dhaka must board buses from designated terminals only.”
The administrator said eviction of illegal shops inside the terminal will continue. In the future, if necessary, hawkers and vendors will be brought under an organized system and allocated designated spaces.
Salam noted that both transport owners and workers have assured cooperation in restoring discipline. The terminal has already been cleaned and will be further improved, with owners and workers requested to help clear the remaining areas.
He also mentioned plans to stop the practice of buses picking up and dropping passengers at random points across the city, and to ensure discipline by constructing three entry and exit gates around the terminal.
To improve passenger services, necessary infrastructure facilities will be expanded. Separate areas for AC buses will also be designated after discussions with transport owners.
On long‑term plans, Salam said, “In future, only city buses will operate from Saidabad. The inter‑district bus terminal will be relocated to Kanchpur. Similarly, Gulistan bus terminal will be relocated. Work is underway with the goal of establishing full discipline in Dhaka’s transport system within the next three to four months.”
He added that efforts are being made to restore order in the capital’s transport system within the timeframe set by the prime minister. Continuous meetings are being held with transport owners and workers, with further discussions planned if needed.
The DSCC administrator emphasized that establishing discipline in the transport sector is essential to build a well‑organized, clean, and environmentally friendly metropolis, and sought cooperation from all stakeholders.
