The government has issued a stern warning to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to improve its service quality within one month or face action. To expedite vehicle fitness certification and driving license issuance, private sector involvement may be considered. Simultaneously, the police have been tasked with achieving visible improvements in Dhaka’s traffic congestion within seven days.

These decisions were made during a joint meeting held at the Power Building in Dhaka on Thursday. The meeting was attended by four advisers from the caretaker government, police officials, and senior representatives from various government agencies.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan stated that as per the decisions made in October, buses over 20 years old must be removed from the roads by May of the upcoming year. For trucks, the age limit has been set at 25 years. Advertisements detailing these directives have already been published in national newspapers.

To address traffic congestion, school authorities will be encouraged to use buses for student transportation. Necessary guidelines will be issued through the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, starting February 25, a pilot initiative will introduce company-operated bus services on nine routes in the capital.

In a separate briefing at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, the adviser emphasized that despite the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recommendations, electricity prices will not be increased. Instead, the government plans to reduce production costs and subsidies in the electricity sector by curbing corruption. The IMF has reportedly agreed to this strategy.

Regarding the ongoing loan program, the fourth tranche of $645 million under the IMF's Extended Credit Facility is scheduled for approval by the IMF Executive Board on February 5, with disbursement expected by February 10.

Ahead of this disbursement, an IMF delegation led by Chris Papageorgiou, Head of Development Macroeconomics, visited Dhaka on December 3 to review the progress of the program and discuss potential new loans. During a press conference held at the Ministry of Finance yesterday, Papageorgiou emphasized the need for financial sector reforms in Bangladesh, including identifying non-performing loans accurately and developing a roadmap for restructuring the financial sector.

He further stressed the importance of ensuring Bangladesh Bank’s independence and governance as part of broader reforms. While acknowledging the evolving political landscape in Bangladesh, Papageorgiou reiterated the IMF's focus on fostering sustainable economic reforms.