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No way out of school-hour jams?

SYED TASHFIN CHOWDHURY
With schools resuming this week, residents, commuters and students of Dhanmondi, Banani, Gulshan, Baridhara, and Uttara areas prepare for another six months of suffering caused by the suffocating traffic and noise pollution.
Lack of proper coordination between school and traffic authorities has made movement of residents of these areas a constant hassle especially during
peak hours, opined most people.
"It takes me over an hour to get to Dhanmondi from Gulshan because of the heavy traffic which is a common scenario when schools are open," said a schoolteacher of Gulshan. She however can consider herself a little fortunate as she travels in her own vehicle. But commuters from other parts of the city who have to depend on public transports like human haulers, CNG run taxis and cabs and buses spend longer hours stuck in jams.
"I usually leave home in the morning with an hour in hand to reach the university in time for classes knowing that getting past the US Embassy would alone take atleast 20 minutes," said Tareque Hossain of Malibagh who is a student of North South University in Banani.
The situation is a lot worse in Uttara where some renowned English medium schools have set up branches. Because of these institutions, the rush-hour on that particular portion of the Airport road begins as early as
7:30am and continues for the next couple of hours.
"I find it easier to walk about a quarter mile to get to my school," said Fahim Chowdhury, a student of Scholastica's Uttara section.
It doesn't get any better when schools break during mid-day. Hundreds of cars, CNG-run three-wheelers, cabs and rickshaws cram whatever little space is available around the schools.
Noise pollution also reaches disconcerting levels in these
residential areas.
"The concerned authorities should be blamed for such chaos," said the principal of a school in Baridhara. "Without their permission, these schools could never have been established where they are now located," she added.
"We are trying to initiate our own community police force, which hopefully will bring an end to traffic congestion in the Dhanmondi residential area," said Abul Khair Bablu, commissioner of Ward 49.
Zahirul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Traffic (North) pointed out that most of these schools had enough funds to provide school buses, which could have eased the rush of vehicles.
"We have already spoken to authorities of most of these schools regarding the problem but we are yet to receive any positive response from them," said Islam.