DHAKA: Government agencies will launch a coordinated cleansing drive on July 15 to drive all outworn vehicles off Dhaka’s streets as a measure to discipline the chaotic traffic in the capital.

A meeting at the Communications Ministry Thursday made the decision, at a time when the government is procuring new transport vehicles for the commuters in order to introduce mass-transport system, meant for alleviating sufferings of people for want of transport on the one hand and nagging traffic jam on the other.             

“We have decided to lift the antiquated transport from Dhaka streets and a campaign will start on July 15 to continue for three months,” Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said after the meeting.
 
He said buses aged over 20 years and other vehicles carrying goods for over 25 years will not be allowed to run in the Dhaka streets. They will be removed within three months.

With the Minister in the chair, the meeting was attended by top-level officials of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Dhaka District Administration and the Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

BRTA, district administration and DMP jointly will run mobile court and sort out the ramshackle vehicles from the streets during the three-month cleansing campaign, the minister told reporters.

BDST/ 1311, June 24, 2010
AKR/MMK/EH/MUA