Staff Correspondent:

The government has banned trucks and covered vans from running on highways from March 25 to 28 before Eid-ul-Fitr and also three days after.

However, the ban will not apply to transports carrying daily essentials, a notice signed by Assistant Secretary Md Jasimuddin of the Roads and Highways Department.

A meeting led by the road transport and bridges ministry and railway ministry advisor was held on March 9 to ensure the safe and undisrupted travel of holidaymakers for Eid-ul-Fitr. The authorities made the decision following the meeting, the notice said.

“With Eid coming up, highways will be off limits to trucks, covered vans and lorries from March 25 to March 28 and three days after Eid day. However, transports carrying essential food items, perishable goods, garment materials, medicine, fertiliser and fuel will not be part of the ban. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will have to inform everyone about the issue through a notice.”

Copies of the notice have been forwarded to the BRTA chairman, all deputy commissioners, police superintendents, Highway Police, Bangladesh Road Transports Owners Association, Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, Bangladesh Truck Covered Van Owners Association, Bangladesh Bus Truck Owners Association, and Bangladesh Covered Van-Truck-Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners Association.

BRTA Director (Road Safety) Sitangshu Shekhar Biswas said that they would issue a notice in response to the directive of the ministry.

The public holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 31, but the date of the Islamic festival is subject to the sighting of the moon.