t is no secret that Dhaka is a city with many flaws, and the capital’s persistent planning failures have left it strained and, unfortunately, increasingly unlivable.
Therefore, the recent calls for modern, transit-oriented urban planning -- made by Environmental, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan at a seminar on Sunday -- should be heeded.
While it is true that major infrastructure projects like the metro rail have offered us a glimpse into what could become a more organized future, the reality on the ground remains less than ideal.
Run-down and extremely unfit buses, insufficient and unimposed regulations on routes and drivers alike, and a lack of safe and inexpensive transport options have turned daily commute into a nightmarish ordeal for the everyday Bangladeshi.
The solution to all this requires, first and foremost, acknowledging the real problem: We lack a well-managed public transport system that prioritizes efficiency, accessibility, and the safety of our people.
To that end, we agree with the adviser that transit-oriented development (TOD), as part of our smart transport strategies, can prove to be essential in reducing traffic congestion, cutting emissions, and improving mobility for all residents.
We must design a sustainable system that ensures free movement within the city while also prioritizing green spaces and ecological balance, in order to truly make Dhaka a better place to live.
The time for empty words has passed. We have reached a point where small-scale solutions will no longer suffice. Our focus has to shift to building a modern public transport system that is clean, efficient, and truly well-rounded.
Without a complete overhaul of how we design and manage public transport, Dhaka will simply not be able to support the millions who depend on it every day.