Sirajganj: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday urged all concerned to refrain from installing billboards on highways.

‘Billboards shouldn’t be displayed alongside highways, but extortionists do that tagging their own images along with ministers and MPs to prove themselves as leaders. They’re actually not leaders…they do it for extortion,’ he said.

Obaidul Quader, also the presidium member of the ruling Awami League, came up with the remarks while visiting accident-prone Mulibari intersection at Bangabandhu Bridge West Link Road in Sadar upazila.

He said New Jersey Barriers (concrete dividers) will be built before Eid -ul-Azha in four accident-prone areas from Bangabandhu Bridge to Hatikumrul.

The minister asked the Deputy Commissioner of the district to stop the plying of battery-driven vehicles on highways as those cause road accidents and traffic jam.