Stern action if business done blocking roads, warns DMP

Traffic department of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) warned on Thursday that stern action will be taken against traders if they do business blocking roads inconveniencing vehicular movement during the holy month of Ramadan.
The DMP issued the warning to give a relief to the city dwellers from persistent traffic jams during the month of fasting.
Additional Police Commissioner of DMP traffic department Md Munibur Rahman disclosed it to the media at a press briefing on 'Traffic Management and Directives during Ramadan' at DMP Media Centre in the capital.
He said that they have noticed that unwanted traffic jams occur at different important intersections of the city just before 5:30 pm until Iftar time as most of the vehicles prefer to reach their respective destinations hurriedly before the time of breaking fast.
The government offices close at 3:30 pm during the month of Ramadan.
Mr Rahman requested the job holders to get back to their respective houses just after government office time ends (at 3:30 pm).
He said that the offices are closed before three and a half hours of Iftar time but that still yields a little result in controlling traffic jams during Ramadan.
He said that illegal car parking on important roads reduced the width of the roads that lead to creating inconvenience to smooth vehicular movement.
He called upon the city dwellers not to go for car parking beside the roads.
The police official requested the passengers to wait and get on busses from the designated bus stoppages.
He said that most of the bus drivers and contactors of different routes used to spend some time at some bus stoppages to get more passengers despite their (passengers) poor presence at the stoppages that had also contributed to traffic jams and cast a negative impact among the passengers.
He categorically said that heavy vehicles must maintain their movement in the capital during the designated time.
Asked why not they were taking measures against haphazard bus parking, he relied. "We are regularly holding talks on the issue with the drivers and owners."
About persistent traffic jam at Gulistan and other old parts of the city, he said many big arats (wholesale markets) of rice, fruits and medicines wholesale markets are located at Mitford and Babubazar Bridge areas in the city.
He said that some foot-over bridges in those areas are required to be built and the existing foot-over bridges are not being used fully.
"We have to allow the traders of those areas to run their businesses as we have nothing to do right now considering the existing reality and circumstances," he said.
He, however, said that people have to be conscious. He said that they were trying to ensure smooth vehicular movement by applying their utmost utility.

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