Apart from ensuring security for Eid holidaymakers, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has also taken initiatives to publish traffic updates on their official Facebook page in a bid to make journeys more convenient.

Rapid Action Battalion – Rab Online Media Cell, the official Facebook page for Rab headquarters, yesterday started updating on traffic flow of railways, waterways and highways.

The elite force will post an update every four hours to keep the holidaymakers updated, Benazir Ahmed, director general of Rab, said at a press briefing at Rab Media Centre in the capital's Karwan Bazar yesterday.

In addition, 14 Rab battalions will also publish traffic updates on the highways of their respective zones every four hours, Benazir added.

SECURITY MEASURES FOR EID

A two-week long security plan that started from August 13, has been implemented ahead of Eid, said the Rab chief.

While talking to reporters, he said a total of 245 patrol teams have been deployed countrywide, 56 striking force teams are ready to tackle any untoward situation and 20 temporary camps have been established in different exit points around Dhaka and other major areas such as Abdullahpur, Joydebpur, Konabari, Chandra, Meghna and Gomti bridge, Paturia, Daulatdia, Mawa and Kathalbaria.

At Mawa Ferry ghat, due to a navigability problem, cattle traders are bringing in sacrificial animals on small trucks and until Friday evening, 6,500 cattle-laden trucks had entered Dhaka, said the Rab DG.

At Paturia and Daulatdia ferry ghat, cattle-laden trucks are causing some congestion but the passenger bus movement is normal, he said, adding, there is also pressure at Sadarghat terminal, but the situation is normal.

The Rab DG is anticipating a rush on highways when workers of the readymade garment factories will go on Eid holidays. “We have also taken initiatives to cope with the traffic flow”, he said.

Around 68 trains are operating on different routes across the country and the good news is almost all the trains left terminals in due time, except for some, which were delayed by half an hour, he said.

“We have also taken measures to ensure security in cattle markets. Around 37 muggers and dope gang members have been arrested so far to avoid any disruption of law and order,” Benazir said.

The elite force has also taken stringent security measures to ensure safety during Eid jamaat. Two of the largets Eid congregations will be held at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan in Kishoreganj and Gore-e-Shahid Boro Math in Dinajpur. Rab has already taken all steps to ensure a full-proof security, he said.

POST-EID MEASURES

“We often see rise in road accidents on highways after Eid as bus drivers remain on vacation leaving the vehicle at the mercy of the helpers, who get involved in reckless competition with each other,” he said, adding, during last Eid vacation, around 137 people were killed in road accidents.

Rab will set up check posts at various points on highways on August 23-25 to take action against the offenders.

The elite force will take actions against speeding, invalid licenses and other related offences, he added. This year, a number of vehicles remained off-road due to absence of route permit and fitness, he said. “We primarily thought it will create an additional pressure on highways but no such chaos took place yet.”

MILITANTS UNDER SURVEILLANCE 

“We are continuously analysing threats and keeping surveillance, as militants have attempted to attack on Eid jamaat earlier,” Benazir said. “We are conducting two types of surveillance -- human and tactical.”

For traffic updates:  https://www.facebook.com/rabonlinemediacell/