Ministries gear up to ensure smooth journey

With Eid-ul-Azha just around the corner, three ministries involved with public transportation have taken several steps to ensure hassle-free journey of the holidaymakers.

Every year, thousands of people leave the capital to celebrate Eid with their loved ones in their village homes. But their journey often turns difficult, largely due to traffic jams, overcharging of tickets and delays in bus, launch and train schedules.

The shipping ministry yesterday cancelled leave of all officials and staff of its three agencies to ensure smooth operation on the waterways.

The ministry yesterday issued a circular in this regard, also taking the country’s flood situation under consideration.

The three agencies concerned are: Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and Shipping Department.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Highway Division (RTHD) yesterday set up a central control room in Dhaka to ensure smooth traffic for holidaymakers during the Eid rush.

Officials from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Roads and Highways Department (RHD), and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will work jointly from the room.

The control room at BRTA headquarters will remain open for 24 hours from August 6 to 17, according to a circular of the division.

Nur Mohammad Mazumder, joint secretary of the division, will work as focal person while Humayun Kabir Khandaker, additional secretary of the same division, will supervise the activities of the control room.

The control room can be contacted at 55040737 and 01550051606.

Meanwhile, several sections of the railways ministry will remain open this weekend (Friday and Saturday) “for discharging important work”, according to a circular of the ministry.

The work concerned mainly involves rail operation during Eid rush, an official of the ministry said wishing anonymity.