Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Friday expressed hope that this year’s Eid-ul-Adha travel will remain smooth and comfortable despite the pressure of transporting a huge number of holidaymakers and sacrificial animals within a short timeframe.
The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending a cheque distribution ceremony for road accident victims’ families at the Cumilla District Shilpakala Academy auditorium.
The programme was jointly arranged by the Cumilla district administration and the local office of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
During the event, compensation cheques amounting to Tk4.89 crore were handed over to the families of 86 people killed in road accidents and 33 injured victims.
Families of the deceased received Tk5 lakh each, while injured recipients were provided financial assistance ranging from Tk2 lakh to Tk3 lakh.
Rabiul Alam said managing the movement of nearly 2.5 crore people, along with sacrificial animals, during Eid-ul-Adha remains a major logistical challenge every year.
“Due to limitations in transport infrastructure and the existing road network, Eid travel often faces difficulties. However, with public awareness, cooperation, and favourable weather conditions, we expect this year’s journeys to be safer and more comfortable,” he said.
The minister also noted that work is progressing to upgrade the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway into a 10-lane corridor, alongside ongoing development projects on several key highways nationwide.
Highlighting concerns over road safety, he said an average of 4,500 people die in road accidents every year across the country.
According to the minister, unskilled drivers, unfit vehicles, and lack of public awareness are among the leading causes of such accidents. He added that the government has undertaken multiple initiatives aimed at reducing road crashes and improving safety standards.
State Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid, Cumilla-6 lawmaker Md Manirul Haque Chowdhury, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammed Ziaul Haque, and BRTA Chairman Mohammad Habibur Rahman, among others, attended the programme.
