Coordination meetings will be held every 15 days among all relevant agencies and stakeholders to mitigate traffic congestion and maintain normal traffic management during ongoing and upcoming mega project constructions in Dhaka city, said Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed.
Salahuddin made the announcement this afternoon while briefing journalists at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bangladesh Secretariat, following a meeting on managing traffic amid mega project construction in the capital.
Salahuddin said the meeting was convened with all relevant ministries, divisions, and authorities to ensure that development work across Dhaka city and its surrounding areas is completed in a coordinated manner.
He noted that special attention is being paid so that one agency does not begin digging a road immediately after another agency completes its work, emphasizing that the government’s primary goal is to bring relief to city dwellers, reduce public suffering, and prevent the waste of time and money.
He added that the tendency to dig roads becomes severe during the monsoon season, and clear instructions have been issued to execute utility shifting and other construction work simultaneously through inter-agency coordination.
To monitor the mega projects of various bodies – including the ongoing MRT, Bridge Authority, Roads Division, City Corporation, WASA, and DESA – focal points have been designated.
Overall work progress will be reviewed at the coordination meetings every 15 days, while continuous communication will be maintained through an official-level sub-committee as required.
The Home Minister further stated that an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based modern traffic system has been introduced to restore discipline to city traffic and curb jams, bringing visible order to vehicular movement and benefiting residents.
Directives have also been issued to carry out utility shifting work in coordination with the traffic department.
Additionally, the decision to relocate the Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Fulbaria bus terminals outside the city to reduce traffic pressure on the capital is in its final stages, with land acquisition and overall planning currently underway alongside interim guidelines to maintain traffic discipline during the transition.
Identifying the uncontrolled operation of battery-run rickshaws as a major cause of traffic congestion in the capital, Salahuddin stated that the movement of three-wheelers or small vehicles on main roads is contrary to traffic discipline.
He explained that a process is underway to bring battery-powered autorickshaws under a policy framework gradually, ensuring discipline without abruptly rendering anyone completely unemployed.
He added that the government has already launched a crackdown against charging points set up using illegal electricity connections from various pillars, disconnecting numerous unauthorised lines, and affirmed that this drive will continue.
In response to a query regarding the tentative schedule for local government elections announced by the Election Commission, the minister said the commission functions within its constitutional and legal jurisdiction.
However, local government elections require coordination with relevant government bodies and ministries.
Clarifying that the tentative schedule published by the commission is not a final decision, he noted that a final decision will be reached based on opinions from an inter-ministerial meeting involving secretaries on 17 September and urged all to wait until then.
Answering another question regarding flash processions by the activity-banned Awami League, the Home Minister stated that miscreants belonging to court-banned fascist forces are attempting to create temporary panic through flash processions and cocktail explosions.
He informed reporters that perpetrators involved in recent incidents near the Gulshan and High Court areas have already been identified through CCTV footage analysis and legal action is being taken.
He assured that law enforcement agencies remain on full alert and the government is determined to resist any form of sabotage.
