Road dilapidation due to incessant rainfall and heavy load of rundown vehicles have emerged as major challenges to overcome, as combined efforts of the law-enforcement agencies to make the Eid journey of homebound people safe and hassle-free across the country's highways come into effect today (Friday).
Officials of the Highway Police said they have made special arrangements, including installation of watch-towers and IP (internet protocol) cameras at key points as well as special patrolling, to make the traffic movement on the highways smooth round-the-clock ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr that sees heavy traffic rush.
At the same time, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and district police have deployed their personnel at terminals and other key points of the highways for safe journey and security of the holidaymakers.
Traffic officials, transport operators and road safety activists said moderate to heavy rainfall in the rainy season coupled with excessive presence of unfit vehicles could further worsen condition of the highways, increasing the risk of public sufferings.
When contacted, Deputy Inspector General (Highway Police) Mallick Faqrul Islam said they made special arrangements on the country's major highways -- Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Faridpur.
"Special focus will be on intersections like Chandra, Kanchpur, Mograpara, Daudkandi, Mawna, Aminbazar, Savar, Nabinagar, Goalondo, Gazipur Chandana Chowrasta, Comilla Cantonment, Paduar Bazar and Bhulta to avert traffic congestion. We've also suspended leave of our officials for the sake of strong monitoring."
He said eleven watch-towers with binocular facility were being installed at various strategic points to monitor traffic on the highways. Besides, police will also enforce traffic regulation strictly in coordination with district police, community police and transport owners and workers' associations.
"The combined efforts to ensure smooth traffic will start on Friday, when the first chunk of the holidaymakers will start departing the capital city," he added.
Talking about the issue, Superintendent of Police (Comilla) of the department Rezaul Karim said watch-towers had already been installed at Daudkandi Toll Plaza, Comilla
Cantonment intersection, Chandina Bazar, Paduar Bazar and Mohipal intersection, from where designated officials would monitor traffic through binoculars.
"We were also given dedicated SIM cards from a private telecom operator that will help us get the traffic scenario at the intersections from our stations."
He also said the condition of Dhaka-Chittagong Highway was gradually worsening in various parts, especially in Sitakunda area, due to heavy rainfall that the country has been experiencing for the last two days.
"If the rainfall continues for two more days, the situation might go beyond our capacity," he opined.
Superintendent of Police (Gazipur) of the force Shafiqul Islam said they were facing difficulties in tackling increased pressure of vehicles on highways like Dhaka-Mymensingh and Ashulia-Baipail that leads to the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. Vehicles of more than 30 districts under Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions ply the highways.
"We're also observing movement of a good number of ramshackle buses on the highways, and it causes severe problem for us," he added.
A senior official of the department said they cannot take strict action against such dilapidated vehicles, considering demand-supply gap of compliant transportations ahead of the Eid festival that experiences mad-rush of home-goers.
"We should pray to almighty Allah so that rains stop, especially during the peak time. Otherwise, journey of the homebound people could turn into a nightmare," he added.
Meteorologists said the country is experiencing heavy shower following a deep convection over the North Bay. Deep convection is taking place over there under the influence of the monsoon low over the Northwest Bay off Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coast.
"The country might experience moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and gusty wind for the next couple of days," Director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) Md. Shah Alam said.
BMD has asked all three maritime ports of the country to hoist the cautionary signal no-3, he added.
Meanwhile, experts and transport owners have requested the authorities concerned for paying serious attention to the entry and exit points of the capital where vehicles are witnessing severe gridlock.
"It becomes very tough to leave and enter the city because of gridlock in Jatrabari, Abdullahpur and Gabtoli areas," General Secretary of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity Khandaker Enayetullah said.
He said deplorable condition of the highways following ongoing construction work, poor maintenance and continuous rainfall could be causes of serious pain to both passengers and transport operators.
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