Everyone's doing it!
From Shishu Park to Shahbagh police box in the capital is a five-minute walk. But by bus on a weekday afternoon yesterday, it took over 30 minutes.
During this period, the on-duty traffic constable opened the intersection for traffic movement five times, but had to close it after allowing two or three buses to pass because of the gridlock up front.
Although the roads from Shahbagh towards Elephant Road and Banglamotor were found almost empty, traffic was clogged at the intersection as buses were busy dropping off and taking passengers, standing in the middle of intersections.
This was the scenario of the intersections around 2:35pm to 3:05pm yesterday -- just a day after Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan inaugurated the fortnight-long traffic discipline programme.
This correspondent's efforts to ask several bus drivers and their helpers at the intersection about it were met with aggressive counter-questions: “Why are you asking me? Ask others!”
While travelling by a bus of Bihanga Paribahan from Gulistan to Karwan Bazar, the bus driver was seen stopping every time he saw a potential passenger on the road, in contrast to the rule under which buses are supposed to keep their doors closed after leaving a stoppage until reaching the next stoppage.
Even people waiting to board buses were not standing at any designated stoppage; they were seen raising hands in the middle of roads whenever they saw a bus coming.
Asked about it, bus driver Helaluddin said they have to stop if they want to get passengers. “Besides, there are only a few designated bus stoppages, so we have to stop in the middle of the road,” he added.
Similar scenes were seen in front of Gulistan Mazar, Paltan, Press Club, Fakirapool and High Court areas in the capital. People were jaywalking riskily without a care for zebra crossings, although Red Crescent volunteers were trying to shepherd them to the right path.
A number of people were seen walking on the roads instead of taking footpaths, while some motorbikers parked their vehicles on the footpaths.
Asked, Sumon Bhoumik, who parked his motorbike on footpath in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, rather angrily said, “Everyone's doing it; what is your problem?”
Suzaul Islam, a Jagananth University student was seen walking along the road avoiding the footpath near Bangla Motor. “There are holes and barriers on the footpath, so I have taken the road as it is smooth,” he responded casually when asked about the reason.
“We were able to bring people and vehicles under discipline in places where we have a number of traffic police personnel and volunteers. The situation will not improve in a day, but we are trying our level best,” Mir Rezaul Alam, additional commissioner (traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star.
About bringing buses under discipline, he said that they are holding meetings with bus drivers and asking them to follow traffic rules. “We hope to improve the situation.”
In some places of the capital, traffic police officials were indeed seen passing a busy time along with members of Bangladesh Scouts, to bring back discipline on roads.
At Kawran Bazar intersection, two traffic sergeants were busy filing cases against bikers for not having proper documents around 4:05pm.
Three police constables were found working hard and requesting people to stand at the designated bus stoppages. Passenger buses were also found stopping at designated stoppages.
The fortnight-long traffic discipline programme will continue till January 31. During this period, the DMP traffic department has taken an 11-point special action plan, including setting up check-posts at 57 points and bringing public transport under discipline.
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