Car-free road in Banani by March

He made the statement while addressing a programme on World Car Free Day at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka yesterday morning. Dhaka celebrated World Car Free Day for the first time, along with other cities around the world with a government initiative for the first time aiming to promote the improvement of mass transit and reduce pollution. He said: “A road in Banani will be announced as car free for a day within March. We will start with a small road near Banani market and people will only be able to walk on the road on that day of the week. “No car will be allowed on the street during that time.” He, however, said the same system will gradually be introduced in Mirpur, Mohammadpur and Gulshan area. “Around 50 cities of the world has made car free day, so why we cannot,” he added. He said: “Paris recently has been observing a car free day every Sunday.” “We will also develop mass transit by adding 3,000 new buses to Dhaka’s streets, he added. Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), a wing of Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) initiated the celebration with a day-long programme at Manik Mia Avenue with the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and 40 more government and private organisations. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurated the festival as chief guest. People at the celebrations voiced their concerns about air and noise pollution in the city. The celebrations had a festive mood with events such as cycling, kite flying, painting, badminton, chess and basketball.