The Dhaka city transport chaos continues on major roads and intersections every day, causing immense sufferings to commuters under the very nose of the authority concerned. Now it has become quite common to see cars, buses, motorcycles and even trucks being parked wherever the opportunity is available on the roads and footpaths.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader had said the topmost priority of his ministry would be to bring back discipline to the roads and highways for streamlining the public transport sector. And he also asked the concerned officials to take necessary steps in this regard. But the situation remains unchanged as there is no visible improvement. Currently the police control traffic manually across the city.
According to a survey, World Traffic Index-2019 published by a research organization called NUMBEO, Dhaka ranked first on the list of worst traffic among 207 cities in the world. But in a city like Dhaka, where people experience traffic congestions for hours on end and pedestrians face difficulties while using roads as traffic signals are never maintained, traffic lights are mandatory for reintroduction of road discipline. As per DMP officials, the two city corporations of Dhaka are responsible for installing and maintaining the traffic signals while police are responsible for the operational side of the signals.
In some cases, traffic police also used rope, stretching it across a road to stop errant drivers at intersections, which was an example of utter disobedience on the part of the road users and an acute ineffectiveness of initiatives taken by the authorities. Nightmare during the day’s peak hours - is what SM Mizanur Rahman, a regular passenger from Uttara to Mohakhali faces in the form of severe gridlocks at House Building, Jashim Uddin crossing, Airport crossing and Banani crossing as the buses are always parked indiscriminately.
Rubaiya Sultana, a private bank worker (Jamuna Bank) while waiting at capital’s Farmgate area shares her experience with Bangladesh Post, “for women, it’s unbearable. Sometimes buses do not want to take women in for being crowded. There are some bus services especially for women, but you will never find them on road”
At Kawran bazar intersection, talking to Bangladesh Post, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on duty traffic sergeant Aminul Kabir says, “Motorcycle and bus drivers are reckless while they drive on roads, park anywhere they wish. Nothing can stop them, no law or fine. We try the best from our side without being strict to encourage them to follow traffic rules. Bus drivers compete with each other to get their passengers consciously blocking ways”
Jatri Kalyan Samity, an independent rights body for passengers, general secretary Mozammel Hossain Chowdhury said, “political will is extremly mandatory to bring this situation under control. Traffic systems are manual here, police cannot alone solve problem. Passengers also have to be aware about their rights. Transports owners cannot deny how their workers exploit passengers. In all, we need cooperation from all related sections.
The DMP several times this year campaigned to simulate city dwellers awareness. However, after observing thirty minutes per intersection in city’s several locations including Shahbagh, Bijoy Sarani, Malibagh, Karwan Bazar, Mohakhali and Farmgate areas, this reporter found motorcycle riders skipping traffic orders. Buses, in the name of gate lock service, scatteredly take passengers avoiding bus stops.
Mofiz Uddin Ahmed, additional commissioner (traffic) of DMP talking to Bangladesh Post said, “Traffic system is improving day by day. It’s not an overnight task. We are working tremendously hard to increase awareness-engaging public, police and transport leaders. May be there are few places where it seems ‘no order’ but if we get any complaint we go through it, media has a huge role to play,”
Bangladesh University of Engineering and technology’s (BUET) Accident Research Institute Director, Mizanur Rahman said to Bangladesh Post, “Accidents are common in our chaotic traffic systems. App based transports are providing us temporary relief. Reshuffling whole bus service and people friendly transport system can be a choice for the government. We have to focus on public, not privates or personal transport. Worldwide city people prefer bus service for daily movement. Dhaka city’s traffic system still runs manually. Digitising traffic system, increasing more public transport will be sustainable solutions.”