Wrong side driving by University of Dhaka (DU) buses

Dear Sir,

Please accept my heart-felt respect!

I presume that you have already received a couple of my letters before regarding the above subject. I am once again sending this letter as a last approach to stop wrong side driving by your university buses. I have been trying hard for more three years to convince you that it is utterly illegal to allow the DU buses to drive on the wrong sides of the roads, but all my approaches have gone in vain. So far there has been no respite in breaking the traffic rules by the DU buses. Rather DU buses have created an exemplary instance for others, and buses from universities like Jagannath University and Jahangirnagar University have started driving on the wrong side.

I felt compelled to write to you three years ago as I was about to be hit by one of the DU buses even though I was on the right side of the street. As I approached a high official of police there, he expressed his helplessness altogether. He advised me to write to you (the VC) and seek your help in stopping the wrong side driving. Consequently, I wrote to you and sent copies to relevant police officials, but to no avail. Interestingly, a high official of the traffic department called me and also expressed his helplessness in controlling DU buses plying on the wrong side. I was surprised: how could the police department say that they are helpless in front of the students of University of Dhaka! Does it mean that state itself is helpless?

At present, an increasing number of buses of University of Dhaka, Jagannath University and Jahangirnagar University have taken to driving illegally on the wrong side as a regular practice for their convenience in reaching their campuses. But this cannot, should not, and must not go on forever. The law of the land should be abided by all the citizens of the state. If your students break the law every day, then they will be least bothered about respecting laws in future – meaning the future generation will be distorted. When a student starts his/her day with breaking law, what future do you expect from them? The Daily Star has already run reports on the DU buses and other vehicle driving on the wrong side.

Unfortunately while going to school, my son sees this wrong side driving by the university students as a regular practice and sadly smiles at me looking at my gloomy face. Your students make me feel shocked everyday. I have travelled to many countries, including SAARC ones, and nowhere have I found such wrong side driving by student buses.

You being Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, may I implore you to take immediate steps to stop wrong side driving by your buses. At the same time may I request you to discuss this issue with the VCs of other universities whose buses are also breaking the traffic rules following example set by DU. I am sending a copy of this letter to the VCs of those universities. Please take action jointly.

I eagerly await you ensuring a stop to university buses breaking traffic rules on the roads of Dhaka. Please make our roads safe and secure by ensuring traffic rules in place.

Kindest regards.

Shazzad Khan

Sr. Programme Coordinator

Manusher Jonno Foundation

Gulshan: 2, Dhaka: 1212

Ph: 9890111, 9893910 Ext: 304