Dhaka city’s traffic system

Dhaka city’s traffic system is considered to be one of the most chaotic ones in the world. The residents are
compelled to undergo physical stress and suffer financial losses in terms of man-hours lost on working days. The
media, both print and electronic, have been constantly highlighting the sufferings of the commuters in Dhaka
city because of the nagging traffic problem. Yet no solution to the problem, apparently, is in sight, at least, in the
short and medium terms, though a lot has been said and a big-enough programme, undertaken with the assistance
from a multilateral lender to improve the traffic situation of the capital city in recent years.
Various attempts were taken by previous governments including special meeting with the agencies concerned to
devise means to help reduce the intensity of traffic problem in Dhaka city. Some tangible improvements were
assured within the shortest possible time. But, in fact nothing has happened with the traffic police remaining
indifferent, in many cases, to their usual duty. The drivers of buses and trucks and the rickshaw-pullers continue
to be as defiant as before. In the past politicians were often blamed partially for the chaotic traffic because of
their alleged involvement in billion-taka toll collection from bus and truck owners and bus terminals. The
advisers of the caretaker government were believed to be clean in this respect. Yet, there was no improvement in
the traffic situation.
The public buses are still ignoring the authorized bus stoppages and picking up and dropping passengers from
any point -- even from the middle of the road. At the bus stoppages, the drivers park buses in a haphazard
manner blocking normal traffic movement. Then again, the buses do very often overtake other vehicles from the
wrong side. Over 95 per cent of the buses plying on different routes of Dhaka city do not comply with
requirements under the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA). They do not have back lights, indicators etc....