Traffic gridlock has been a chronic problem in Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh.
What bothers the city dwellers most is that the incidents of long tailbacks are getting longer, turning commuting into a nightmare.
The traffic congestion was a longstanding issue but it has recently taken a severe turn with police yet to return to work in full force following the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5.
Experts cited disorderly parking, buses stopping haphazardly to pick up passengers, footpath encroachment, a shortage of road space relative to the number of vehicles, unplanned urbanization, incompetence and corruption among traffic authorities, lack of systematic planning, weak law enforcement, and the concentration of industries and offices as key factors contributing to the worsening situation.
City dwellers alleged that though traffic police returned to work from their abstention, they have not been found active like before the fall of the Awami League government.
The traffic congestion will take a serious turn if the normalcy does not return to the traffic police members, they observed.
The number of vehicles including buses, private cars, CNG-run autorickshaws, ambulances, bicycles, and trucks—has surged, exacerbating the problem.
During the absence of the traffic police on the streets, students took it upon themselves to manage traffic. Amid the chaos thousands of unauthorized battery-operated rickshaws took to the streets from the alleys, worsening the traffic jam.
What public transport passengers say
Talking to several passengers waiting for vehicles near National Press Club, Paltan intersection, Mouchak and Natun Bazar intersection, it was learned that while traffic congestion is a daily reality, the current situation has grown increasingly dire.
Urging the interim government to take effective measures to address the problem, commuters alleged that they have to be stuck in public transports hours together due to the traffic jams.
Banker Ruhul Anisur Rahman criticized the traffic police for failing to manage the situation effectively, calling their current role as passive observers.
Ferdous, who uses public transport "Green Dhaka" regularly to move between Kuril and Natun Bazar, said disregarding traffic rules some people are contributing to the traffic congestion.
He suggested stricter enforcement by traffic police could mitigate the problem, but noted that such measures have not been visible recently.
The rise of unauthorized battery-operated rickshaws and paddle rickshaws on major roads has led to disarray, with many drivers disregarding traffic laws. The streets are crowded with these vehicles, contributing to increased risk and accidents.
Another passenger said earlier he could travel from Paltan to Kuril within one hour but now it takes around two hours and a half.
Chief adviser’s directives to address the traffic jam
In a meeting on September 16, the interim government chief Dr Muhammad Yunus called on the police and experts from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) to find swift and effective solutions.
What the traffic police say about the issue
Traffic police officials, including Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Additional Commissioner Khondkar Nazmul Hasan, said that they are actively working to address the congestion and attributed the issue to various external factors, including protests and the increasing number of unauthorized vehicles.
He informed that they have been conducting drives against unauthorized vehicles plying on the streets and imposing fines on the law violators.
Dr Adil Muhammad Khan, a Jahangirnagar University professor and also former general secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, noted that the rise in vehicle numbers is outpacing the expansion of road infrastructure.
The expert said that the number of vehicles is increasing in Dhaka but the roads are not increasing accordingly. In the last few years, the number of private cars, and motorcycles in Dhaka has increased a lot. Where private cars are supposed to be reduced, the number of cars is constantly increasing.
The urban planner said the government formulated the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) in 2005 to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka. If that plan of 2005 could be implemented, then there would have been a lot of improvement in 2024. That is, traffic congestion was not supposed to increase. However the plan could not be implemented.
He addressed the lack of effective public transportation options as a significant factor contributing to traffic congestion, stressing the need for better management and planning.