The inauguration of the metro rail was met not only with significant elation and joy, but also hope -- hope that this would be the first step towards finally finding some solution to our traffic woes. For now though, Dhaka traffic continues to move at a snail's pace, causing commuters untold sufferings.
It is the same old story, over and over again with Dhaka, where any event can bring the city to a literal standstill. Currently, it is the pressure of Ijtema-bound vehicles in Tongi that is causing the city's traffic to go from bad to worse.
However, for how long will citizens of Dhaka endure singular events to deteriorate the city's already woeful traffic condition? Whether it is a strike, a concert, or in this case, the ijtema, we are left helpless. This cannot be how we continue to function.
While we are right to have faith in the metro rail to be a probable solution to ease Dhaka's traffic, we are many years away from all of it being completed. Until then, for Dhaka to suffer on a daily basis must not be the only path -- the citizens of Dhaka simply deserve better.
Decentralization has long been spoken of, and this newspaper has editorialized repeatedly about it. With each passing year, decentralization becomes a greater need, and it is high time the authorities concerned look at this issue with the seriousness it warrants.
The average Bangladeshi commuter loses years sitting in traffic, not to mention the crores lost on a daily basis in working hours as a direct result of traffic congestion. As Bangladesh looks to become a middle income economy, until we are serious about fixing our traffic woes and the numerous ways it is hurting us, we will never become the nation we aspire to become.