This was decided at a meeting of the National Road Safety Council yesterday at the communications ministry with Communications Minister Nazmul Huda in the chair.

The meeting asked Dhaka Transport Board and the police to execute on a priority basis the earlier decision of the council to install video cameras and metal detectors in long-distance coaches to prevent robbery at night.

The minister asked the police to stop movement of all types of vehicles including buses, mini buses, trucks, auto-rickshaws, covered vans and mini-trucks from 8am to 5pm through Abdul Gani Road to make the important roads near the Secretariat jam-free. Only the government vehicles and private cars will be allowed to ply this road during the period.

The meeting also decided to cancel fitness certificates of all vehicles emitting black smoke to make the city's air pollution-free.

Besides, display of advertisements on the bodies of vehicles, which might affect road safety, would be banned.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has been asked to prepare a draft on regulatory policy for display of advertisements on the BRTC and private buses.

Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation Executive President Shahjahan Khan, MP, Communications Secretary Md. Shafiqul Islam, DG of the Prime Minister's Office Mohammad Shah Alam, BRTA representative Shamsur Rahman Biswas, RAJUK Chairman Shahid Alam, former vice-chancellor of IUT Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain and National Professor Dr. MR Khan attended the meeting.