There is no denying that the traffic system in Dhaka, and indeed the rest of Bangladesh, needs a complete overhaul.
From the excessive traffic jams which plague Dhaka streets -- 3.2 million working hours are lost every day due to traffic congestion -- to the number of road accidents which make news every day (according to reports, over the last 10 years, more than 25,000 people have lost their lives to traffic related accidents in the country) current traffic conditions are far from tenable.
What we need, more than anything, is a concerted effort by all stake-holders to ensure a highly coordinated system that prioritizes safety and efficiency.
In this regard, we appreciate Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia’s insistence on increased coordination to improve the traffic system.
As it currently stands, when it comes to public transport and traffic lights, Dhaka’s system falls woefully short of standards, leaving an environment of utter chaos, with vehicles plying the roads with little to no regard for traffic rules.
But we cannot merely blame the lack of implementation of traffic laws for the current state of affairs -- which, of course, remains of the utmost importance.
For one, it is up to the city planning authorities to improve the current infrastructural elements which continue to wreak havoc with the way the roads function. Additionally, we need to have an integrated public transport system which runs effectively and efficiently, without putting the traffic under stress.
Unless and until these two facets are improved, we will continue to lose time, money, and, most importantly, lives to the chaos of our traffic.
