BGMEA President Faruque Hassan urged the government to speed up the implementation of the bus rapid transit project and complete it in the quickest possible time to ease traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Gazipur highway.

He also called for immediate steps to keep the highway free from random on-street parking and makeshift shops and market as such occupation narrows down the existing road and causes traffic congestion. He also sought cooperation and support of the police and Gazipur City Corporation in this matter. 

The request was made when a delegation of BGMEA met with Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam at the secretariat in Dhaka on January 18.

BGMEA Vice Presidents Shahidullah Azim and Md. Nasir Uddin and former President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Managing Director of Shasha Denims Shams Mahmud were also present at the meeting.

The BGMEA leaders said the nagging traffic jam caused by the ongoing construction works of the project on the Dhaka-Gazipur highway is causing immense sufferings for regular commuters and having adverse impacts on the RMG sector and other industries located in the area by disrupting transportation of raw materials to and finished goods from factories. 

Gazipur is a major industrial hub where a large number export-oriented garment factories and other industries are located.  

They said commuters including workers, entrepreneurs, buyers and their representatives, officials working in garment factories along with other people have to wait long hours on the road due to severe traffic congestion every day. As a result a large amount of working hours is lost and a significant sum of money is wasted as additional fuel cost.

Besides, disruption in transportation of raw materials and exportable goods from factories is adding to production cost and time.

BGMEA Faruque Hassan urged the government to complete the project of constructing Dhaka Airport- Gazipur road in the shortest possible time to remove traffic jam and make it completely usable for commuters.

He also requested the government to start implementation of the Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway project after ensuring an alternative way for use by commuters and vehicles during construction works. 

Ashulia-Savar is also a major industrial zone with many garment factories which have created employment for a huge number of people in the area.