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Last-minute shoppers choke city roads

Staff Correspondent
Die city yesterday suffered unprecedented traffic congestion mainly due to people's last-minute shopping essays ahead of the long Eid vacation.
There is just one more day to before the six-day vacation, from November 11 to 16, comprising the holidays for Shab-c-Quadr, Jummalul Bida and Eid-al-Fitr starts. So, city dwellers were busy buying the remaining items on their Eid shopping list and completing other tasks ahead of the vacation.
The traffic jams were also partly due to making the roads in Dhaka Cantonment off-limits to public transports and inauguration of Mohakhali Flyover that concentrated traffic pressure on Farmgate and certain points in Tejgaon Industraial Area, many commuters alleged.
Jams were there al numerous points from Dhaka Gate to Molijhcclincluding the VIP Road. The worst traffic congestion was witnessed on the roads and lanes in Dhanmondi, Tejgaon and Gulshan areas.
At many intersections, traffic policemen were seen standing helpless and unable to control the huge onrush of vehicles.
Another factor worsening the situation was the increased number of rickshaws in the city, as like every year rickshaws from the suburbs and adjoining areas had rushed to the capital ahead of the Eid in hope of earning some extra and quick money.
Despite the continued drive of Dhaka Metropolitan Police to eliminate those from the city roads, the number of unauthorised rickshaws has increased in the last few days
"Police have seized a good number of rickshaws under their drive," a senior traffic official told The Daily Star. But, nevertheless, the number of unauthorised rickshaws has been increasing by the day ahead of the Eid, he noted asking not to be named.
Almost all drivers of rickshaws, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and black and yellow cabs demanded extra money besides fare as Eid tips, with rickshaw-pullers demanding almost double the fare from people out to shop.
"I have never seen such awful traffic congestion paralysing the city life," said a bus passenger, who had been stuck in a jam for about an hour.
In busy shopping areas like New Marker and adjacent Elephant Road and Mirpur Road, pedestrians were unable to use the footpaths, as hawkers wholly occupied those.
Many believe the traffic situation would improve gradually in the next few days after people start leaving the capital heading for their village and small town homes.