Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided to use his personal vehicle, personal driver, and self-purchased fuel for his daily movements instead of official government transport.
Atiqur Rahman Rumon, a member of the BNP media cell, confirmed on Wednesday that the prime minister is no longer utilising the official government car.
On his first day of official engagements, the prime minister travelled from his Gulshan residence to Savar and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in his own white Toyota before arriving at the Secretariat.
To address traffic concerns, Tarique has ordered a significant reduction in the size of his motorcade. Previously consisting of 13 to 14 vehicles, the motorcade has now been limited to four.
He has instructed the relevant ministry to discontinue the practice of deploying uniformed police along the roadsides during his movements.
The prime minister’s vehicle did not fly the national flag during Wednesday’s activities. Rumon stated that while the daily commute will remain flagless, the flag will be used during state ceremonies or visits by foreign dignitaries.
In a further effort to minimise public suffering, Tarique has decided that most cabinet meetings will be held at the Secretariat. This change is intended to prevent the traffic congestion that typically occurs when ministers must travel from the Secretariat to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The prime minister’s Wednesday schedule began with a visit to the National Memorial in Savar to pay respects to the martyrs of the Liberation War.
He then proceeded to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to lay wreaths at the graves of late president Ziaur Rahman and late prime minister Khaleda Zia. Accompanied by members of the cabinet, he subsequently travelled to the Secretariat to participate in the first cabinet meeting.
