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OPINION

Dhaka's Traffic Jam
For every city dweller. Dhaka's number one civic problem appears to be its traffic Jam. The traffic problem is worsening. getting more complex, obscure and cumbersome day by day. But unfortunately our public leaders, city fathers and concerned government officials, are virtually taking no effective steps, short term or long term plan and programme, to combat this menace. As a result of which, with the passage and wastage of time, the situation is assuming more alarming, uncontrollable and explosive stance.
There are a thousand and one reasons for the worsening of road traffic problem. We however identify only the following three main causes: 1) Unaccountable number of rickshaws plying in the city roads. 2) Haphazard parking of buses at any and every place. 3) Holding of public meetings in the busy and important public roads.
From time to time, whenever we come across any traffic Jam. we instantly blame the poor rickshaw pullers. Undoubtedly, the number of rickshaws, beyond optimum level, is one of the most important factors for creating road traffic havoc but side by side our oversmart bus drivers as well as some of our political leaders are equally responsible for the indisciplined, disorderly and chaotic traffic problem in the crowded capital city of Dhaka
We have observed that the buses, and mini buses are parked in the important and busy places occupying huge spaces and blocking the roads for hours together. Buses also make frequent halts at different 'Bus Stops’ In rows of three to four completely blocking the passage and movement of other buses, motor vehicles and the rickshaws.
It is also very surprising and disappointing that part of our national highway-cum-clty road stretching from Jatrabarl to Nllkhet via Folder Street. Wari. Jai Kali Mandir and Gulistan has, perhaps, developed into the 'longest open air garage' in this part of the world where all sorts of repairs, vulcanising, body making and painting works and being done and the defective buses are parked for weeks together blocking the normal flow of traffic without any objection. Interference, opposition and legal action by the law enforcing authorities, traffic police. Dhaka City Corporation or RAJ UK. It is alleged that a group of mastans
collect a heavy amount of 'toll' from this 'longest open sky garage' daily.
Again some of our political leaders hold public meetings in the busy and crowded public roads barricading the thoroughfares for hours together to the suffering of the greater number of public.
For a long time the city dwellers have been suffering and suffocating due to constant traffic Jams and deteriorating road traffic situation.- We therefore urge our political leaders, city fathers and the concerned government officials to kindly save the residents of metropolitan Dhaka from the alarming, chaotic and dirty road traffic problem and to take the following steps including other necessary measures they consider fit and essential to do away with the horrible and painful situation :
I) Issuing and renewal of U- ■ cences by Dhaka City Corporation for new and old rickshaws may be totally stopped for next five years. 2) Only rickshaws with valid licences may be allowed to ply on the city roads. 3) The existing number of licenced rickshaws may be so proportionately divided and distributed and their Jurisdictions fixed that no area in the city is over crowded with rickshaws. 4) Repair, vulcanising, body making, painting of buses on the bus routes should be totally banned. These may be done at least 200 feet away from the bus routes/roads. And parking of buses for more than five minutes should not be allowed. 5) Bus Stops may be made at least twenty feet away from road Junctions, road corners and road crossings etc. 6) Underground road crossings or flyovers may be constructed for the convenience of the pedestrians and also for the movement of the vehicles without any Interruption. 7) Public meetings should not be allowed on public roads on working days except on Fridays and government holidays. Public meetings may be held in Suhrawardy Uddayan (the place where Gano Adalat was held) and Parade Ground. Tejgaon all the times, when necessary 8) Our traffic police and law enforcing agencies should not remain as silent spectators but actively help maintain discipline, traffic rules, law and order and bring the offenders to book for the welfare of the people.
O H Kabir Dhaka 1203^