Govt pledges rehabilitation as Tk4.89cr distributed to road crash victims in Cumilla
Minister Rabiul acknowledged that managing the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha holiday transit remains a monumental operational challenge
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam announced a comprehensive state framework to rehabilitate families of road accident casualties, distributing Tk4.89 crore in compensation cheques among 119 affected families in Cumilla today (22 May).
The financial assistance was handed over at a joint road safety awareness seminar organised by the Cumilla district administration and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Trustee Board.
Families of 86 people killed in road accidents received Tk5 lakh each, while 33 injured victims were given between Tk2 lakh and Tk3 lakh, according to a press release.
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Speaking as the chief guest at the district Shilpakala Academy auditorium, the minister asserted that while the state cannot return the lives lost, it is actively working on structural policies to prioritise education, employment, and institutional support for surviving family members, particularly when the primary breadwinner has been lost.
Addressing the media following the distribution ceremony, Rabiul acknowledged that managing the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha holiday transit remains a monumental operational challenge.
Transporting an estimated 2.5 crore people alongside millions of sacrificial livestock within a condensed timeframe heavily strains the country's existing logistics networks.
"Due to limitations in the country's infrastructure and transport system, Eid travel often becomes difficult. However, with public cooperation, awareness and favourable weather conditions, we hope this year's Eid journey will be smooth and comfortable," he said.
To alleviate long-term transit bottlenecks, the minister told reporters that expansion works are currently underway to upgrade the vital Dhaka-Chattogram Highway into a 10-lane thoroughfare, alongside other modernisation projects across other critical national highways.
Regarding national road safety, the minister informed that an average of 4,000 to 4,500 people lose their lives annually in road crashes across Bangladesh.
"Driver inefficiency, unfit vehicles and lack of public awareness are the main reasons behind accidents. The government has taken various initiatives to reduce these incidents," he added.
The minister also warned transport owners, operators, and stakeholders to exercise strict responsibility, stating that defective vehicles must be permanently barred and handled only by skilled drivers.
During the event, State Minister for Railways, and Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid affirmed that law enforcement and monitoring agencies are maintaining a strict stance on vehicle fitness and traffic compliance, actively mapping accident-prone zones to deploy pre-emptive safety measures.
Earlier in the morning, Minister Rabiul Alam, accompanied by State Minister Habibur Rashid and Secretary Ziaul Haque, conducted an emergency field inspection of the Meghna-Gumti Bridge toll plaza to supervise overall traffic management.
