Volunteers working to reduce congestion in Tangail ahead of Eid

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has taken a unique initiative by deploying volunteers to assist the traffic department in easing congestion in Tangail town ahead of Eid. Under the overall supervision of the state minister, a volunteer programme was launched on Thursday morning to help control traffic in the town. The programme will continue until the night before Eid. State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku said that ahead of Eid the number of people travelling and shopping in the town increases significantly, which leads to severe traffic congestion and causes hardship for the public.

"The volunteers have been deployed to reduce this suffering," he said, adding that such public welfare initiatives will continue in the future and necessary steps will be taken to find a permanent solution to traffic congestion in Tangail. The volunteers are working to manage the increased pressure of shoppers visiting city markets for Eid and to reduce traffic congestion. They are assisting traffic police at important roads and intersections across the town.Currently, 16 volunteers are on duty at key points - five at Old Bus Stand, five at Nirala Mor, five at Kalibari Bridge and Bindubasini Girls' School intersection, and one at the College area.

A visit to the area shows that with Eid approaching, large crowds have gathered at different markets, shopping malls and internal roads in the town, creating heavy congestion at several important points. However, due to the active role of the volunteers, traffic movement has improved. The volunteers are wearing special yellow T-shirts as uniforms and using whistles to manage traffic from morning to night. Their uniforms bear the inscription: "Under the overall supervision of State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku." Auto-rickshaw driver Abdur Rahman said the volunteers' efforts are benefiting people. "Earlier, vehicles used to stop anywhere but now some discipline has returned. However, traffic congestion is increasing day by day due to the large number of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws in the town," he added.

Rickshaw driver Ashraf Ali said, "Previously we had to wait for a long time at these intersections. Now, because the volunteers are present, vehicle movement is somewhat organised. It saves our time and benefits the passengers as well." Member Secretary of the district volunteer team Saleh Mohammad Shafi Ethne said that under the supervision of the state minister, 16 volunteers are currently working in coordination with the administration from the 15th to the 22nd of Ramadan. After the 22nd of Ramadan, the number of volunteers will be increased to 30, and the programme will continue until Eid, he added.

Officer-in-Charge of Tangail Sadar Police Station Ruhul Amin said the volunteers are working alongside the district police to help ease traffic congestion in the town. "It is a commendable initiative and will reduce public suffering," he said.