Sense and nonsense about traffic jams and rickshaws
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
My old friend, Mr (one-track mind) Rahat of Malibagh has once again vented through one English daily his spleen against rickshaws in Dhaka and against the suggestion of Prof Rabbani of DU for a trial period of a few weeks, to garage one's cars and travel around Dhaka in rickshaws.
Heaven forbid, (according to him) how could any sensible person make such a horrible suggestion in these modern times when one's ego cannot do without one's luxury cars even for the shortest of errands?
Mr Rahat is again utterly shocked to see the horrid traffic jams caused by thousands of (invisible?) rickshaws on Airport, Mirpur, Mohakhali, Gulshan and other roads that have been rickshaw-free now for years!!!! With his 'sensible mind', while stuck in the gridlock of motorized vehicles, he is unsure whether we should move forward (with even more cars) or backwards (with rickshaws). Right now, I do not think he could move even sideways (walking)!!!.
He advises everyone to think, to be practical, realistic and sensible. OK, Mr Rahat , please do that. Also please exult in the news headlines a few days back -- Tk 150 billion (15,000 crores) Metro, Elevated Expressways, Four-lane Highways, Circular railways and other lollipops that have been dangled before the gullible public. Will these be available in our lifetimes? No time-limit for completion or start of work is given.
In the meantime, please wipe your crocodile tears for the 'poor' rickshaw-puller and his family. To better understand Dhaka's traffic imbroglio (7.0% road space, fully pot-holed, capacity 150-200,000 motorized vehicles but with 400,000-500,000 private cars already 'running' (gridlocked) on them and a further 100-150 added every day), I would advise Mr Rahat, in the serene environment of his home, to take a 50 kg cement bag and fill it with 100 kgs of cement. If he can do that, I will raise my hat to him in admiration.
Sikander Ahmed
4C, H 2&4, Rd 1, Bl B, Niketon
Gulshan-1, Dhaka 1212.
E-mail: faireen1978@yahoo.com
Heaven forbid, (according to him) how could any sensible person make such a horrible suggestion in these modern times when one's ego cannot do without one's luxury cars even for the shortest of errands?
Mr Rahat is again utterly shocked to see the horrid traffic jams caused by thousands of (invisible?) rickshaws on Airport, Mirpur, Mohakhali, Gulshan and other roads that have been rickshaw-free now for years!!!! With his 'sensible mind', while stuck in the gridlock of motorized vehicles, he is unsure whether we should move forward (with even more cars) or backwards (with rickshaws). Right now, I do not think he could move even sideways (walking)!!!.
He advises everyone to think, to be practical, realistic and sensible. OK, Mr Rahat , please do that. Also please exult in the news headlines a few days back -- Tk 150 billion (15,000 crores) Metro, Elevated Expressways, Four-lane Highways, Circular railways and other lollipops that have been dangled before the gullible public. Will these be available in our lifetimes? No time-limit for completion or start of work is given.
In the meantime, please wipe your crocodile tears for the 'poor' rickshaw-puller and his family. To better understand Dhaka's traffic imbroglio (7.0% road space, fully pot-holed, capacity 150-200,000 motorized vehicles but with 400,000-500,000 private cars already 'running' (gridlocked) on them and a further 100-150 added every day), I would advise Mr Rahat, in the serene environment of his home, to take a 50 kg cement bag and fill it with 100 kgs of cement. If he can do that, I will raise my hat to him in admiration.
Sikander Ahmed
4C, H 2&4, Rd 1, Bl B, Niketon
Gulshan-1, Dhaka 1212.
E-mail: faireen1978@yahoo.com