Shawdesh Desk:

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader directed the engineers of the Roads and Highways Department to stay at their respective workplaces to ensure smooth and safe movement of homebound people during the Eid-ul-Azha.

The minister issued the directives while speaking at an Eid preparation meeting with senior officials of the Roads and Highways Department, project directors and additional chief engineers of various road zones through video conferencing from his residence here.

The meeting was held at Sarak Bhaban in the capital, a ministry press release said.

Quader, and the Awami League general secretary, said apart from preventing coronavirus infection during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, ensuring safe movement of the home-goers would be another challenge amid the monsoon and ongoing flood situation.

He stressed on taking an integrated plan to keep the exit points of Dhaka city and Tongi-Gazipur, Kaliakair-Chandra and Nabinagar-Chandra intersections free from traffic congestions.

Although the condition of roads and highways is now better than any time in the past, the highways may be damaged due to incessant rains, Quader added.

He instructed the authorities concerned to stop the ongoing works of flyovers and underpasses for seven days before and after the Eid.

The road transport and bridges minister also instructed the engineers of the Roads and Highways Department to remain ready to repair the roads through mobile teams if any of those gets damaged.

Stressing the need for paying special attention to the relatively old and vulnerable bridges located on various roads and highways, he said the risky bridges could be damaged at any time due to the flow of rainwater and floodwater and excess pressure of vehicles.

Chaired by Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department Shahriar Hossain, the meeting was attended, among others, by Additional Chief Engineer Monir Hossain Pathan and additional chief engineers of different road zones.