Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday issued a directive to remove all the billboards, banners, posters and festoons from the Dhaka- Naraynganj Highway within the next ten days ahead of the ensuing municipality elections.  The local government elections are scheduled to be held on December 30 across the country.   The minister gave the directive while visiting the proposed site of the third Shitalakhya Bridge in Char Syedpur area of Narayanganj.
Obaidul Quader hoped that the construction work of the bridge, funded by the Saudi government, would begin next year. He said accidents might take place in the area because of the poor visibility caused by the billboards, posters, banners and festoons using big pictures of leaders and activists of various levels of the Awami League. The minister ordered removing all such items from both sides of the highway within ten days; otherwise the government will do the job on its own.
He also said that the government would not interfere in the municipality polls and the Prime Minister asked to public  representatives and leaders not to violate the electoral code of conduct of election commission by doing so.
The minister also said the government is firm on the ban on the movement of three-wheelers on the highways.
Mentionable, Awami League on Tuesday asked its leaders and activists to remove billboards, posters, banners and festoons with pictures of party leaders other than Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to UNB. The party started sending letters signed by its general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam from Monday to presidents and general secretaries of all organisational districts as well as associate bodies containing the directives.