Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Kader today said the CNG-run auto-rickshaws can use highways from 6:00am to 8:00am for refuelling at roadside stations without carrying passengers.

"CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers, without carrying any passenger, will be allowed to ply on the highways for refuelling their vehicles for two hours from 6:00am," the minister said.

Obaidul Kader made the announcement while visiting the progress of the construction work of four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Chouddagram upazila in Comilla today.

Meanwhile, the minister also warned that the government will take stern actions to bring back discipline on the highways, reports our Feni correspondent.

"We will face all challenges to bring discipline back on the highways," he said, adding that lives are more important than livelihood.

"We [government] want to give preference to the people's lives first and then livelihoods."

Regarding the unfit vehicles and driving without valid licence, the minister said the government is going to take tough measures in this regard.