Motorcycle toll collection at the Hatuvanga Bridge over the Bangshai River in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail has been suspended following the intervention of local Member of Parliament Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui. The decision was confirmed on Friday morning by Mirzapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khan Salman Habib. The toll collection had begun on July 1 under a government-approved rate of five taka per motorcycle, sparking widespread dissatisfaction among residents and regular bridge users.

The leaseholder, Masudur Rahman of Masud Enterprise, decided to withdraw the toll after discussions with the MP and local administration. He stated that although the move would cause financial losses—estimated at about 5,000 taka daily and 5.4 million taka over three years—the decision was made in the public interest. The Roads and Highways Department’s executive engineer, Dr. Cynthia Azmeri Khan, said a recommendation has been sent to higher authorities to prevent future toll leases on the bridge.

MP Siddiqui added that a legal amendment would be required to permanently abolish the toll and that he plans to raise the issue in the next parliamentary session.