Dhaka: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday gave illegal occupants a fresh deadline to remove their structures from the country’s roads and highways by 15 March.

‘Stern action will be taken against the occupants if they fail to shift their structures from roads and highways within the given time,’ he told a meeting in the capital.

Bangladesh Road Transport Association organised the meeting of its executive committee at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium.

Quader said the government is implementing some big projects like upgrading highways into four-lane ones, building elevated expressways and flyover projects to modernise the road communication system and ensure the smooth movement of passengers.

He said the government has already imposed a ban on plying auto-rickshaws and three-wheelers on 22 highways and roads, but unfit vehicles are playing highways in different areas, which is not acceptable.

Unfit vehicles contribute more to road fatalities, he said, adding that members of transport owners associations need to be more aware of that.

State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives and Jatiya Party presidium member Moshiur Rahman Ranga said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already provided Tk 60 crore as compensation to affected transport owners and workers who suffered from the blockade of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.  

‘No government in the past compensated transport workers and owners,’ he added.

Association secretary general Khandaker Enayaet Ullah and its leaders Kabir Uddin, Rustam Ali Khan and Ali Akbar also spoke at the meeting.