Unfit buses rule city streets
More than one in five buses of private operators running in the capital have no valid fitness certificates.
2d ago
Roads now worse than a year ago
The roads that have been in “poor, bad or very bad” conditions got worse over the last one year, dealing a setback to the Roads and Highways Department.
4d ago
Commercial Vehicles: 74,000 set to go under crushers
Over 74,000 registered buses, trucks and other commercial vehicles are past their economic lifespan set by the government.
1w ago
Failed Procurement: Locomotives to cost more than double now
By failing to buy 70 locomotives over the last 11 years, Bangladesh Railway (BR) has shown how the non-implementation of a single project can hurt the organisation’s overall services and cause huge financial losses.
3w ago
Underpass to link everything in airport area
The government will build a 1.07km underpass in the capital’s airport area to link Dhaka airport terminals, railway, BRT, MRT stations and the Hajj camp.
3w ago
Old buses, trucks to be sent to the scrap yards
The government has decided that buses and trucks will be scrapped after 20 and 25 years of being on the road.
3w ago
Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar Rail Link: Opening this Sept but bottlenecks to stay till 2028
The Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar rail line via Chattogram is likely to open this September, but the rail connectivity between the capital and the tourist district may not be smooth before 2028.
3w ago
Vehicle registration declines to 8-year low
Vehicle registration in Bangladesh has declined to an eight-year low in the first four months of this year, owing to consumer tightening their belts and escalated prices fueled by higher import costs.
3w ago
BRTC to expand its fleet
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is set to buy 440 new buses, including 100 electric buses for the first time in the country, to enhance and upgrade its services in Dhaka, Chattogram and different inter-district routes.
First contractor for MRT-5 north picked
In a major development, the metro rail authority has finalised the first contractor which will begin the physical work of the country’s third metro rail project titled Mass Rapid Transit Line-5 (Northern Route).
Locomotive crisis to deepen further
While Bangladesh Railways is already struggling with more than 70 percent of its locomotives being old, it may face further issues as two of its projects, to buy or overhaul 91 locomotives, are going to be cancelled.
BRT-3 may stretch beyond Dhaka airport
An extension of the Bus Rapid Transit Line-3 beyond Dhaka airport is being considered to further facilitate operations and serve city-bound passengers.
Expanding Dhk-Ctg Highway: Impasse finally clearing up
An impasse over the upgradation of Dhaka-Chattogram Highway seems to be over as the Roads and Highways Department has started working to determine where the road will have six lanes and where it will have eight.
Metro Line-2, -4: Japan, S Korea, WB show interests
Japan, South Korea and the World Bank have expressed interests in financing the preparatory works for two more metro rail lines, said the authorities.
A necessary but expensive expansion
The government is going to expand the Chattogram Port Access Road up to six lanes to improve connectivity between the country’s largest seaport, the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway and the yet-to-open Bangabandhu Tunnel.
Bangabandhu tunnel: Delayed decision delays opening
The construction work of Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River saw a 99.5 percent completion. However, the tunnel is unlikely to come into operation before September due to the delayed decision to install vehicle scanners there.
Rail operation likely to resume next week
Rail operation between Dhaka and Narayanganj is likely to resume early next month as laying of a new rail line between Kamalapur and Gendaria is almost complete.
Eid journey largely trouble-free
To celebrate Eid with their loved ones, thousands left Dhaka yesterday on trains, buses, and launches, and their journeys were mostly free of hassles.
Eid trip to north gets expensive
Coaches are overcharging people heading for the north by up to Tk 900, taking advantage of the Eid rush, poor monitoring, and no set fare for long-haul air-conditioned buses.
Give us road crash data before publishing, BRTA asks road safety orgs
The government has asked the non-government organisations working on road safety to inform the authorities concerned before releasing data on road crashes and casualties.
Construction of Kewatkhali bridge to begin in August
Physical works of the country’s largest steel-arch bridge in Mymensingh are expected to start in August, as the authorities have almost completed the preparatory works.
Road Crash, Casualties: Even BRTA, police figures don’t tally
Road crash data from two government agencies does not match and this could lead to problems in making informed decisions on road safety
Electric Vehicles: Govt finally makes guideline for registration, operation
The government has finally approved a guideline for the registration and operation of electric vehicles.
Biggest Road Safety Project: Concern rising over fate of WB fund
The World Bank in March last year approved a loan for the biggest road safety project in Bangladesh. The loan contract with Bangladesh authorities has to be signed within one and a half years of the approval, or else, the loan would be cancelled, said officials.
New Kalurghat bridge to cost Tk 14,000cr now
A new rail-plus-road bridge at Kalurghat in Chattogram is going to cost almost 12 times the initial estimate because the authorities spent nine years doing multiple feasibility studies and designing and redesigning the bridge.
2nd Dhaka-N’ganj Rail Line: BR project runs into more trouble
The second Dhaka-Narayanganj rail line project, which is already running behind schedule, has run into major trouble as a contractor has sought to cancel the contract.
Ctg-Cox’s Bazar Highway: RHD moves to get rid of bottlenecks
The Roads and Highways Department will build 24km of bypass roads and a flyover on Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway to eliminate bottlenecks in five town areas.
Sonamasjid land port to be brought under rail network
Bangladesh Railway is looking to build a new rail line to bring Sonamasjid land port under the country’s rail network.
Bike sales drop 30% in two months
Motorcycle sales declined by 30 per cent in Bangladesh in the past two months due to higher inflationary pressures and a draft policy that makes securing a driving licence mandatory before buying two-wheelers.
Demerit Point For Drivers: Govt agencies dragging foot on enforcement
When the Road Transport Act-2018 was enacted over four years ago incorporating a system of demerit points on driving licenses for traffic violation, the authorities said the system would go a long way in ensuring road safety.
Bhanga-Jashore-Benapole Highway: Funding snag holds off project
A problem over funding the expansion of the Bhanga-Jashore-Benapole highway project is raising concerns that the work of the much-needed project may take more time to kick off.
Improve safety at 2,000 level crossings
With more than two-thirds of the 3,111 level crossings in the country considered unsafe, a government survey has recommended improving safety features of around 2,000 rail crossings.
Bhanga-Payra Port Rail Line: Chinese firm keen to invest, build it
A state-run Chinese company has proposed investing and constructing the Bhanga-Payra Port railline on a public-private partnership model.
Vehicle fitness: A mockery at the cost of life and limb
Most vehicles involved in recent major and sensational road crashes did not have the required documents, including valid fitness certificates, or their drivers were without a valid licence.
43Km Sylhet-Sheola Road: Dual carriageway to boost regional links
The government is going to turn the 43km Sylhet to Sheola Land Port road into a dual carriageway to improve regional connectivity.
Transport master plan violated at will
Ignoring the Revised Strategic Transport Plan, government agencies on their own initiated eight major projects in and around the capital. The projects could end up on the chopping block and the money already spent could be written off.
BRTA to set up 12 more vehicle tracking stations
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority is set to increase its capacity to track stolen vehicles and monitor traffic movement by setting up 12 additional radio-frequency identification (RFID) stations at the capital’s entry and exit points over the next 12 months.
Road Crashes: Funds there, victims yet to get compensation
Although vehicle owners have been giving money for the fund for road accident victims since January, the authorities could not yet start handing out the compensations yet.
‘It should be realistic, not imposed’
Motorcycle manufacturers and assemblers have formally opposed the draft that transport authorities have prepared to control bikes in a bid to curb road crashes.
Facilitating Work of Metro: Gabtoli terminal to be relocated in a year and half
Gabtoli Bus Terminal, the largest and the busiest inter-district bus terminal in the capital, has to be relocated for the construction of a metro rail line. This may lead to suffering for tens of thousands of passengers.
Mixed reactions as BR starts implementing new ticketing system
While many passengers welcomed the initiative, taken by BR to prevent black marketing of tickets, others, especially those of lower income groups, found the process very complicated
Mrt Line-5 Construction: Southern route to cost 35pc higher than northern
The government is going to construct another metro rail line, whose construction cost per km is some 35 percent higher than that of a similar metro line.
Mrt-5 Northern Route Alignment: RHD, metro rail authority at odds
The metro rail authorities and the Roads and Highways Department are in a tussle over the route alignment of MRT-5 (north), physical work on which is expected to start in July.
Casualties in Road Crashes: Campaigners question govt’s low numbers
For the first time, the road transport and bridges ministry has made public the statistics of road accidents and casualties for a particular month, January.
4 key railway lines likely to open before polls
Chattogram-Cox's Bazar rail line, Khulna-Mongla rail line, Dhaka-Bhanga section of the Padma Bridge Rail Link, and Akhaura-Laksam double line are supposed to significantly improve communications
Joydebpur-Ishwardi double line not before 2028
After China abruptly withdrew from its role of financier of the Joydebpur-Ishwardi Double Line Project a couple of years ago, Bangladesh Railway (BR) is now reviving it with Japanese assistance.
Concrete paving: Potential game changer in road construction
Ready-mix concrete is on a truck. An excavator carries and pours it onto the surface of an under-construction road. Then an automatic concrete-paving machine joins in and does the rest.
No licence, no bike
Nobody will be allowed to buy a motorcycle without a driving licence. Also, one would need a licence to get a motorcycle registered with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.
June 9, 2023
Unfit buses rule city streets
More than one in five buses of private operators running in the capital have no valid fitness certificates.
June 7, 2023
Roads now worse than a year ago
The roads that have been in “poor, bad or very bad” conditions got worse over the last one year, dealing a setback to the Roads and Highways Department.
May 29, 2023
Commercial Vehicles: 74,000 set to go under crushers
Over 74,000 registered buses, trucks and other commercial vehicles are past their economic lifespan set by the government.
May 21, 2023
Failed Procurement: Locomotives to cost more than double now
By failing to buy 70 locomotives over the last 11 years, Bangladesh Railway (BR) has shown how the non-implementation of a single project can hurt the organisation’s overall services and cause huge financial losses.
May 19, 2023
Underpass to link everything in airport area
The government will build a 1.07km underpass in the capital’s airport area to link Dhaka airport terminals, railway, BRT, MRT stations and the Hajj camp.
May 18, 2023
Old buses, trucks to be sent to the scrap yards
The government has decided that buses and trucks will be scrapped after 20 and 25 years of being on the road.
May 17, 2023
Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar Rail Link: Opening this Sept but bottlenecks to stay till 2028
The Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar rail line via Chattogram is likely to open this September, but the rail connectivity between the capital and the tourist district may not be smooth before 2028.
May 15, 2023
Vehicle registration declines to 8-year low
Vehicle registration in Bangladesh has declined to an eight-year low in the first four months of this year, owing to consumer tightening their belts and escalated prices fueled by higher import costs.
May 11, 2023
First contractor for MRT-5 north picked
In a major development, the metro rail authority has finalised the first contractor which will begin the physical work of the country’s third metro rail project titled Mass Rapid Transit Line-5 (Northern Route).
May 11, 2023
BRTC to expand its fleet
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is set to buy 440 new buses, including 100 electric buses for the first time in the country, to enhance and upgrade its services in Dhaka, Chattogram and different inter-district routes.
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