Dhaka Metropolitan Police (I IMP) has laudably zeroed in on a particular evil contributing to city's traffic congestion. It has spotted quite correctly, prefabricated arches, and stages on road-sides or right in the middle of streets as the culprit.

Although the news of the DMP going into action to remove all such traffic obstacles will be eagerly awaited with its comforting effect, the task looks easier said than done.

Apathy and appalling want of discretion on the part of politicians or other organising groups are the main reasons for such shocking "overnight constructions'" at the cost of commuters comfort. If politicians give active consideration to public sensibilities, the task of the law enforcers will be greatly facilitated. A consensus among the political parties and various other associations and groups to abide all restrictions for the common urban good is highly necessary for the DMP to eventually succeed in this drive.

The most important factor for any such roadclearing move is a no-compromise formula and active cooperation from all members of the society. Dhaka has long had a dispensable tradition of being helpless spatial victim of grandiose pontifications. The older part of the city is particularly prone to this tendency. Years of tolerance have already catapulted them as the formidable foes of city or more precisely the traffic management. A saner display of attitude and a shedding of little maudlin sentiment would be great help insofar as the public thoroughfares go