Shortage of public transport hurts city commuters
As Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday restricted vehicular movement at some points of Dhaka city for Awami League's election victory celebration rally at Suhrawardi Udyan, commuters of the city had to face sufferings due to shortage of public transport.
Though intensity of the suffering was lesser than other times, many commuters -- especially patients of some public and private hospitals -- had to walks several kilometres to reach their destination.
Fearing serious traffic congestion, and also as it was the weekend, number of both public and private transport was very low, for which many commuters was seen standing at different points to get their transport.
“I went to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali for treatment of my granddaughter Shayla, but we had to walk around two hours to reach Matshya Bhaban after the treatment,” said Munni Akhtar.
“We did not have enough money to hire a rickshaw, as rickshaw-pullers were asking Tk 200 to 250 to reach Gulsitan. We will take a bus or human haulier from Gulistan to go to Kamrangirchar,” said Munni at around 3pm near Kakrail mosque.
Commuters also had to spend hours on Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover due to traffic congestion, as supporters of Awami League and its front organisations joined the rally with colourful processions, blocking roads.
“I left Chashara, Narayanganj to reach Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 3pm and reached at around 5:10pm; the journey normally takes around one hour,” said Ehsanul Hasan Sohel, driver of an ambulance, who brought a woman in labour to the hospital.
Many patients of DMCH had to face similar ordeal, as processions crossed the DMCH emergency gate blocking the gate for a brief time, he said.
Photo: Amran Hossain, Rashed Shumon
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