The government has decided that movement of vehicles carrying goods will remain suspended for 10 days before and after Eid-ul-Fitr on Dhaka-Paturia and Dhaka-Archiah highways and Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat river routes.

The shipping ministry has taken the decision to ensure smooth journey of Eid holidaymakers, said Shah Mohammad Khaled Newaz, deputy general manager (Aricha regional) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), at a view exchange meeting on ensuring safe journey of home-bound people at a hotel in Makinganj Shibalay upazila this noon.

Only public transport and emergency  vehicle will ply during this period, the BIWTC official said, reports our Mainkganj correspondent.

He said due to coronavirus pandemic, people could not move normally in the last two years. Now they will come out of their houses, for which passengers on roads, highways and waterways will increase.

To cope with the increased passenger and vehicular pressure, the government has suspended the movement of goods laden vehicles for five days before Eid and another five days after Eid, said the BIWTC official.

"We call upon the concerned transport owners' associations and drivers and helpers to ensure that no goods carrying vehicles can come on the highway or river route during the period," said Khaled.

Over 800 police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Ansar and community police personnel will be deployed along with the executive magistrates to comply with government's directive, said Golam Azad Khan, superintendent of Manikganj police, at the meeting.