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are the rising number of road blockades.

THE WIDER IMPACT

Dhaka, already crowned the world’s slowest city by a 2023 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research, now teeters on the brink of a complete traffic meltdown.

Commuters, especially during school and office hours, endure hours-long delays, missing appointments and, in some cases, jeopardising their livelihoods.

“Yesterday, it took me over three hours just to reach my office in Karwan Bazar,” said Sumaiya Rahman, a private bank employee. “By the time I got there, I had missed an important client meeting.”

There are other factors that compound the city’s traffic woes. An increasing number of rickshaws on major roads, ongoing construction projects, illegal parking, and vendors encroaching on footpaths all contribute to the chaos.

Randomly stationed buses and unregulated stops further clog the streets.

“Every day feels like a gamble,” said Ashfaq Hossain, a father of two. “I can never be sure if I’ll be able to pick up my kids from school on time. The stress is unbearable.”

The economic cost? Incalculable.

Delayed deliveries, missed business opportunities, and lost productivity add up to a staggering loss for the city’s economy.

“I run a small business, and my deliveries are always late,” said Kamrul Islam, a shop owner in Old Dhaka. “Customers get angry, and I lose money every day because of this mess.”

EFFORTS PROVE INSUFFICIENT

Between September 1 and December 31, 2024, the DMP’s traffic division issued 139,001 traffic violation cases, resulting in fines totalling nearly Tk 50 crore. The DMP also confiscated 45,457 battery-operated rickshaws and 5,979 foot-operated rickshaws during this period.

The police have deployed 4,200 officers and 600 student representatives to enhance enforcement. Recently, the government has introduced traffic signal systems at four key intersections using manual technology and formulated a policy to regulate battery-powered rickshaws.

Yet, these measures have done little to ease congestion.

Besides, construction for MRT Line-5 and Line-1 has prompted public advisories to avoid several areas, including Gulshan-2, Uttar Badda and Aftabnagar.

Traffic congestion persists in hotspots like Pragati Sarani, Vatara, and Badda due to metro rail construction, while dug-up roads in Moghbazar-Mouchak and gridlocks in Old Dhaka worsen the crisis.

Lalbagh Traffic Division ADC Abu Sayeed blamed increasing auto-rickshaw numbers, street vendors spilling onto roads, and reckless bus operations as reasons behind Dhaka’s traffic mess.

Echoing him, Mofizul Islam, deputy commissioner (Traffic-Gulshan) of the DMP, said roads under his division have been narrowed down due to ongoing metro rail construction.

Those interviewed by this newspaper, both commuters and cops, said while protests are a democratic right, their unchecked proliferation -- especially in a city as congested as Dhaka -- requires urgent attention.

Authorities must strike a balance between allowing citizens to voice their grievances and ensuring that the city remains functional, they added.

Experts have called for designated protest zones, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, and better urban planning.

For now, Dhaka’s streets remain a battleground of demands and a cacophony of grievances disrupting the daily rhythm of life.