Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges

ministry · verified (verified 2026-05-17)

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Head: Shaikh Rabiul Alam
Role: Minister
Annual budget: ৳3,232,957,000,000
Staff: —
Established: 2014
Legal basis: Constitution of Bangladesh, Article 55; Rules of Business 1996; Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983; Bangladesh Bridge Authority Act 1985

Prioritising Bangladesh Railway profitability overhaul and Padma Bridge revenue optimisation while facing sustained criticism over transport-sector extortion legitimisation; BRT Line-3 unresolved; Dhaka-Chittagong highway fatalities at record pace with no announced enforcement escalation.

Recent activity

2026-02-17 appointment Shaikh Rabiul Alam (BNP, Dhaka-10) sworn in as Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping in the Tarique Rahman-led BNP government -- a triple-portfolio appointment consolidating all surface and waterway transport under one minister. ↗↗
2026-02-19 statement Minister Rabiul declared at his first press briefing that Bangladesh Railway must become profitable and service-oriented; announced a structural overhaul plan including technology-driven management, anti-corruption measures, and prioritisation of freight revenue to cross-subsidise passenger services. ↗↗↗
2026-02-19 controversy At the same press conference, Rabiul Alam drew sharp public criticism by describing informal levies collected by transport owner and worker associations as 'mutual understanding' rather than extortion, drawing condemnation from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman. ↗↗↗
2026-02-22 reform Minister ordered officials to fast-track stalled bridge and rail projects and perform duties with professionalism; directed Roads and Highways Department to prioritise maintenance of the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor. ↗↗
2026-03-15 policy 25 percent rail fare discount announced for elderly, physically challenged persons, and students on intercity routes, effective immediately; minister cited social equity and ridership growth as twin goals. ↗
2026-03-20 other Padma Bridge recorded 41,885 vehicle crossings in a single 24-hour period in March 2026 with Tk 45.4 million in daily toll revenue; cumulative toll earnings since June 2022 opening crossed Tk 30 billion by January 2026 (43 months of operations). ↗↗↗
2026-04-10 reform Bangladesh Railway modernisation update: approximately 80 percent of intercity train rakes replaced with modern coaches; government contracted RITES Limited (India) for 200 broad-gauge carriages, first batch of 20 coaches expected by May 2026, remainder in FY2026-27. ↗↗
2026-04-20 scandal Road Safety Foundation data released for April 2026: 404 killed and 709 injured in 463 road crashes nationwide in a single month; Daily Star editorial described the continuing toll as 'road carnage' and demanded the ministry impose stricter enforcement on unfit vehicles and unlicensed drivers. ↗
2026-04-28 other Dhaka-Gazipur BRT Line-3 remains in limbo: infrastructure 97 percent complete but no dedicated bus lanes; government decided not to expand costs further; BRTC launched interim bus service on the shared corridor from December 2024 as a stopgap, with ADB-AFD-funded project facing possible shelving after Tk 2,800 crore expenditure over 13 years. ↗↗↗
2026-05-10 audit TIB governance report on Roads and Highways Department (RHD) highlighted systemic procurement irregularities and bribery; a 2024 TIB study had quantified Tk 1,059 crore paid annually in bribes by private bus companies to BRTA, traffic police, and political transport bodies -- no ministerial response on BRTA reform issued as of mid-May 2026. ↗↗

Provenance & notes

Ministry established 2014 when Communications Ministry was split into Road Transport and Bridges (MORT) and Posts, Telecommunications and IT. Minister Rabiul Alam holds three concurrent portfolios: Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping -- an unusual triple-portfolio arrangement in the new BNP cabinet. annual_budget_bdt reflects the FY2025-26 ADP allocation of Tk 32,329.57 crore for the Road Transport and Highways Division only (stored as 3232957000000 BDT); Bridges Division allocation tracked separately but not isolated in available sources. Rabiul Alam was suspended by BNP in October 2024 over alleged involvement in the murder of broadcast engineer Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim; BNP nonetheless renominated him in December 2025 and he won Dhaka-10 with 80,436 votes on 12 February 2026. Seven criminal cases remain pending in CMM Court Dhaka as of verification date; none formally cleared. Padma Bridge toll revenue figure of Tk 30 billion over 43 months (June 2022 to January 2026) sourced from Prothom Alo and BSS; daily crossing peak of 41,885 vehicles in March 2026 sourced from BSS. Dhaka-Chittagong highway fatality figure of 152 lives in 12 months sourced from Dhaka Tribune. Verification based on 2+ primary sources for all key claims.

Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges

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