Shawdesh desk:

The government on Tuesday allowed motorcycles to run on the Padma Bridge from April 20, ahead of Eid ul-Fitr, 10 months after they were banned from using the installation.

The motorcycles are allowed to run at the highest speed of 60 kilometres with maximum of two persons on fixed lanes and toll booths.

The government banned motorcycles from using the bridge after a fatal crash on it on June 26, the first day it was opened to traffic.

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader told reporters at Ganabhaban on Tuesday that motorcycles would be allowed to run on the Padma Bridge using the service lanes from 6:00am on April 20.

‘This opportunity has been given at the instruction of prime minister Sheikh Hasina on an experimental basis,’ United News of Bangladesh quoted Quader as saying.

He warned that if discipline was not maintained, the opportunity might pass.

A press release issued by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority on Tuesday said that motorcyclists must follow fixed lanes and toll booths, and they would not be allowed to change lanes in any situation.

The motorcyclists cannot overtake, and the rider and the pillion rider will have to use safety kits, including helmets.

They will not be allowed to park on the bridge in any situation to take photos or anything, and only two people will be allowed to ride on one motorcycle, the release added.

Bridges division secretary Monjur Hossain informed New Age that there were two service

lanes on both sides of the bridge.

Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday also introduced a special ferry service on the River Padma to carry motorcycles ahead of Eid.

New Age Munshiganj correspondent reported that Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation introduced the special ferry service with two medium-sized ferries on Tuesday for 21 southern districts-bound motorcycles on the Shimulia-Majhikandi route.

BIWTC Shimulia ghat manager Jamal Hossain said that the first ferry left the ghat around 6:50am with 169 motorcycles.

The number of ferries would be increased if necessary, he added.

Two motorcyclists were killed in the road crash on Padma Bridge on June 26 when 60 per cent of the 61,836 vehicles that crossed it were motorcycles.

In 2022, the government also banned motorcycles on highways and inter-district roads across the country to prevent traffic accidents before and after Eid-ul-Azha.

There is no such ban ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr this year.

Fatal road crashes involving motorcycles have continued to increase and remain high on the crash charts following an increase in the number of vehicles by about 441 per cent in the past 12 years in the country.

According to the Road Safety Foundation, the highest 179 or 36.8 per cent of road crashes in March were motorcycle-related, killing the highest 194 or 34.3 per cent of victims in the country.

A Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh report for the same month also said that motorcycles were involved in the highest number of 152, or 31.2 per cent road crashes, which killed the highest number of 163, or 30.2 per cent of the victims.