Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities concerned to relocate four major intercity bus terminals from Dhaka city as soon as possible to help reduce traffic congestion in the capital.
The directive came at the third meeting on reducing traffic congestion and modernising the traffic management system in Dhaka, held at the Public Administration Conference Room of the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu, the Prime Minister instructed that the terminals be moved outside the city at the earliest possible time.
The four terminals are Fulbaria-Gulistan Bus Terminal, Gabtoli Bus Terminal, Mohakhali Bus Terminal and Sayedabad-Jatrabari Bus Terminal.
The meeting decided to relocate the Fulbaria-Gulistan Bus Terminal to Keraniganj.
The Mohakhali Bus Terminal will be temporarily shifted to the eastern part of the city before being permanently relocated near Tongi.
The Gabtoli Intercity Bus Terminal will be moved to Hemayetpur, while the Sayedabad-Jatrabari Bus Terminal will be relocated to Kanchpur.
The Prime Minister also instructed the authorities to remove the numerous bus counters operating across different parts of the capital and relocate them to designated locations.
The meeting reviewed several initiatives aimed at modernising Dhaka’s traffic management system, including the installation of AI-powered traffic cameras and other technology-based traffic control measures.
Tarique Rahman expressed satisfaction over the positive results already achieved through AI-based traffic signalling and monitoring systems.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Habibur Rashid, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam and Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan attended the meeting.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Home Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md Reazul Islam and senior officials from relevant ministries were also present.