The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urged the government to reduce traffic congestion on the highways for the interest of the country's businesses.
It said the recent decision to control axle load of vehicles on the highways also increased the volume of traffic, creating serious traffic jam.
The business leaders voiced their concern on Saturday over an increase in the cost of doing business due to traffic congestion.
They said business spending went up as the volume of traffic increased on the highways, creating serious traffic jam.
They also stressed the need for improving city mass transport services.
The demands came at a standing committee meeting relating to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Coopera-tives held at the board room of the apex trade body's office.
The committee members expressed their determination not to use horns in their cars while moving on the city roads.
The FBCCI leaders said the use of new bitumen in the existing roads during repair work made the road surface higher, causing waterlogging in the city.
They requested the government to ease traffic jam on narrow roads in old Dhaka and emphasised the need for building awareness among the passengers and drivers to help prevent the road accidents.
"We will hold a seminar shortly to discuss all the issues with the city corporation mayor (Dhaka south)," a FBCCI director
who was present in the meeting told the FE.
Director in-charge of the committee Abu Motaleb presented the committee's detailed future plan.
Chairman of the standing committee Helal Uddin presided over the meeting.
FBCCI vice president Md. Muntakim Ashraf and director Hafez Harun-or-Roshid also spoke at the discussion meeting. Members from different sectors were present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com