Follow traffic rules to bring order on roads

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said city residents must first respect the law to bring disciplines on the roads, report agencies.

He made the remarks while launching traffic week at Saarc Foara of Karwanbazar in the city on Sunday.

"The Dhaka Metropolitan Police Traffic Division is working tirelessly to restore order on the roads," he said. "We are not lacking in our effort or our sincerity. But that effort is going to waste because of the attitude towards breaking the law."

"One of our biggest problems is that we have a culture of ignoring the law. I call upon the responsible people in our society that you obey the law and do so enthusiastically."

"Everyone must support traffic police and follow traffic laws. If we do not develop a mentality where everyone follows and respects the law, it will be impossible to ensure order on the roads."

The DMP chief called upon everyone to obey the law.

"Let us all follow traffic laws and inspire others to do so. Please support police in implementing traffic laws."

"We are issuing fines and filing cases where traffic laws are broken," he said. "But fines are not all. Everyone must be conscious of the situation."

"We are holding various programmes to raise awareness of traffic laws to restore order on the roads."

A proposal to run all passenger buses on Dhaka Metropolitan area roads through six companies is being explored, the police chief said.

"If this occurs it will reduce the tendency towards reckless, competitive driving and reduce the risk of accidents. We are currently working on the matter."

He said circular bus services will be introduced within April next in Motijheel, Dhanmondi and Uttara areas like Gulshan to ease the city's traffic situation.

The DMP chief said he has already talked to the mayors of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation to this end. "With their cooperation, bus services will be run by six companies. The process has already started."

Mentioning that work on mass rapid transit (MRT), bus rapid transit (BRT) and elevated expressway is underway which will be completed within two years, he said the entire traffic scenario will be changed once those are opened.

Asaduzzaman Mia said an awareness programme will be carried out extensively so that people use footbridges, underpasses and zebra crossings to reduce the number of accidents.

He also said the DMP Traffic Division is working in coordination with the two city corporations, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) to ease the traffic situation and bring back discipline on roads in the city.

The traffic week will continue until March 23.