Additional IGP Md. Delowar Hossain assures coordinated efforts are in place with police, army, BGB, and RAB ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, even as potholes and accident-prone areas pose challenges

Despite concerns over rain-induced road damage and traffic bottlenecks, Highway Police Additional Inspector General Md. Delowar Hossain Miah has expressed confidence that this year’s Eid-ul-Azha travel will remain largely comfortable for the public. He made the remarks during a press briefing on Wednesday, June 4, after inspecting the Dhaka-Tangail highway at Chandra Trimor area in Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur district.

The Additional IGP said that to ease traffic congestion during the holiday rush, around 4,000 police officers have been deployed on national highways across the country. Their efforts are being supported by members of the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), who are all working together to ensure safe and smooth travel for homebound passengers.

However, he acknowledged that due to continuous rain, the condition of the roads has worsened in several locations. There are currently 67 spots along the highways suffering from potholes, and 285 areas have been identified as accident-prone. These challenges are expected to cause some interruptions in traffic movement. Still, he stressed that with a collective and strategic approach, the overall Eid journey can remain manageable and less stressful for travelers.

As factories and industrial plants begin to close ahead of the holiday, he noted that the number of vehicles and passengers on the highways will increase substantially. In light of this, he urged both drivers and passengers to be especially cautious in areas known for frequent accidents.

Addressing concerns over fare hikes during the holiday season, he announced the upcoming launch of a mobile application called “Hello HP.” The app is scheduled to be officially introduced the following day and will feature a fare chart for routes across the country. With this, passengers will be able to verify the correct fare for their route and lodge complaints in case of overcharging.

He mentioned that discussions have already taken place with bus owners' associations, who have agreed not to charge fares beyond the officially approved rates. Nevertheless, if any transport operator is found violating this agreement, mobile courts will take immediate action against them to ensure accountability.

Delowar Hossain also addressed the issue of road safety, noting that three-wheeled vehicles, including auto-rickshaws, are a major cause of highway accidents. Measures are being taken to prevent such vehicles from entering the highways during the busy Eid travel period. According to him, the presence of unauthorized or unsafe vehicles significantly increases the risk of road accidents, and authorities are actively working to keep them off the main roads.

The briefing served as part of a larger initiative to inspect and assess the preparedness of various agencies ahead of the Eid holiday. With millions expected to travel to their hometowns, the coordination between law enforcement, the military, and transport authorities will play a critical role in ensuring a safe and relatively hassle-free holiday journey.