The affected areas are wards no -- 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 where 80 human haulers ply along four routes -- Gulistan-Bashabo-Madartek, Gulistan- Mugda, Gulistan-Goran, and Gulistan-Sipahibagh.

Ahsan Reza Khan, a private service holder, from Bashobo said: "We face terrible problems during office hours. A few buses arrive to carry bank employees leaving room for human haulers and rikshaws to take undue advantage."

"Rickshaw pullers double the normal fare from Bashabo to Motijheel, Malibagh or Gulistan, and the 30 human haulers plying the Bashabo- Gulistan route end up in a racing competition," Ahsan said.

"The human hauler drivers do not pick up passengers from Bashaboo, but runs 20 meters ahead to Madartek, turn towards Gulistan from Bashabo Cinema Hall, and yet charge an additional taka two which is the usual fare from Madatek to Basabo," he added.

Those involved in the human hauler business on the Gulistan-Bashabo route live either at Wahab Colony at Basabo or Sarkar Para at Madartek.

This group forms part of the syndicate that controls the human hauler business on all four routes from Gulistan to the eastern part of the city.

"Political leaders do not look for any alternatives as this may go against the interest of haulers business. They don't want to dismantle the syndicate as it plays a role in the elections," said a frustrated resident of the area.

"Three wheelers and taxicabs do not go run short distances, and women find it very difficult to board a hauler during rush hours, leaving me with only a rickshaw for transportation," said Rukhsana Aktar, a student from Madartek area.

"Human haulers charge Tk seven from Gulistan to Goran for a distance of only three and half kilometres, the maximum fare to any point. Though the haulers are running on diesel, they have raised the fare on the plea of octane price hike. We demand immediate introduction of a bus service from the central the eastern part of the city," said Monirul Islam, a resident of Goran.

When asked why a bus service is not introduced to these areas, an official of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) on condition of anonymity, said: "Buses ply along the Jatrabari-Rampura route. But because of the narrow roads in the eastern part, we are unable to introduce this service."

"The BRTA is left with no alternative but to renew licences or even issue new ones for human haulers on these routes, although BRTA discourages small vehicles in the city. From 2004, we do not issue licences for such vehicles to ply on the main city roads," he said.

But residents of Khilgaon Chowdhury Para are of a different view. They believe that the traffic congestion is reason why bus services cannot be introduced on Gulistan-Khilgaon route.

"The road that links the Khilgaon intersection to Taltola is broad enough for buses. But, Khilgaon flyover has failed to solve the traffic jam problem of the residents and commuters of wards 25 and 26, as master plan of the flyover was modified," said Shahidul Islam, a resident of this area.

When contacted, the local MP Mirza Abbas who is also the Minister for Housing and Public Works said that he agrees that the people of the eastern part of the city are deprived of a quality communication system.

"The Kamlapur Railway Station has alienated the eastern part from the central. We have to draw up a plan to develop the roads of this area involving Rajuk, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and concerned governmental departments," said Mirza Abbas.

"A large amount of funds is needed for compensation to land donators and construction. As an alternative, a link road has already been constructed from Motijheel to Mugda, while a new road will be constructed linking the Malibagh intersection and Khilgaon Chowdhury Para Community Centre," the minister added.

He also said that the minstry will sit with the leaders of the human hauler syndicates to find an immediate solution.

But he did not comment on the issue related to the modification of the original plan of the Khilgaon Flyover.