Dhaka: Amid sharp rise in road accident casualties, the government on Monday imposed a ban on the movement of motorised and non-motorised three-wheelers on highways across the country with effect from 1 August.

The Roads Transport and Highways Division of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges issued a gazette notification in this connection.

A PID handout said the directive will be applicable for all national highways to ensure safe roads.

The ban came in the wake of deaths of over 240 people in a series of road accidents before and after the Eid-ul-Fitr across the country.

However, it is apprehended that the ban will put pressure on public buses to carry extra passengers apart from leaving the owners of auto-rickshaws and non-motorised vehicles in deep worries.