Traffic congestion

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DHAKA'S traffic jam has long been a nagging problem. The congestion is now totally unbearable. Far from any redress, the problem has been aggravating over the time. The situation, as the experiences in past years do suggest, will worsen during the coming Ramadan.

As things stand now, one cannot make it sure whether he or she can reach a destination even starting a reasonable time ago for the purpose. Against such an appalling traffic scenario, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner announced they have started to manage the congestion problem with a comprehensive approach.

Firstly, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) embarked upon a strange plan asking each traffic sergeant in the city to file at least 35 cases a day. Following the order, the traffic sergeants started filing cases against vehicles and, at one stage, it was found one vehicle faced even five cases in a day. Facing criticisms from all quarters, the order was scrapped. Now the DMP bosses are talking about a new traffic management system. Filing of cases is one option when we see buses stopping at will on the main roads, sometimes right under the eyes of the law enforcers.

We have to accept the reality. We do not have wider roads, the required number of flyovers and many other things. In fact, there is hardly any scope to do much to extend the existing roads in the capital. We have to organise the traffic better with these narrow roads.

The DMP bosses have talked about training of traffic constables. This is one of the major moves to address the traffic bottlenecks in the capital. We, the users of the roads, also have a lot that can contribute no less to easing the traffic congestion problem. Our tendency of jaywalking is a serious problem for the vehicles drivers.

Ahmed Jamil

Dhanmandi R/A

Dhaka