Most areas of old Dhaka are commercially important. But the roads there are very narrow and separate parking spaces are virtually non-existent. As a result, vehicles that arrive from different parts of the city are parked all over thus keeping the roads clogged day and night.

"Often the green light is on but I am unable to pass as illegal and haphazard parking on the roads only allows me to move my car at snail's pace," said Obaidul Kader, a resident of old Dhaka.

"After some roads were made one-way and electronic signals were installed, we thought that the traffic congestion would ease. But the illegal parking is ruining the whole idea," said Rafiqul Alam of Nawabpur Road.

Traffic jam continues to be a regular feature at Dholaikhal, English Road, Postagola, Jatrabari, Bangshal, Nayabazar, Urdu Road, Chalkbazar, Moulovibazar, Imamgonj, Tipu Sultan Road and Johnson Road and sometimes there is no respite even at midnight.

"After 8pm the trucks enter the city and the any hopes of getting free roads disappear even at night," said Khadem Ullah, also of Nawabpur Road.

Residents of old Dhaka hardly have any scope of walking on pavements which have been encroached by illegal occupants. Especially the women, children and the elderly suffer. It takes ages to cross roads sometimes and the lack of over-bridges only compound the misery.

"Rickshaws rule the roads here and they remain stuck to each other during jams. Men can cross over to the other side of roads by jumping over the front wheel of rickshaws but we can not do that," said Areefa Banu, a student of Kabi Nazrul College.

The traffic department said that they were trying to keep illegal parking under control but admitted it was a tough job.

"We cannot stop parking on roads entirely as the commercial importance of this part of the city is immense. We have suggested a single row parking on the roads and the traffic department is always trying to maintain that," said a high official of the traffic police.