Massive traffic jam posing threat to N’ganj businesses
Mushtaq Ahmed Shawon :
Narayanganj, known as a hub of industry and commerce, holds strong economic ties with both international markets and various regions across Bangladesh.
Despite its longstanding economic contributions, this industrial city now faces a major obstacle: unrelenting traffic congestion. Traffic jams have become a daily ordeal for residents, with crowded streets and highways sometimes even on weekends.
The unbearable traffic congestion is disrupting people’s daily lives, wasting countless work hours and negatively impacting the economy.
Due to persistent jams, foreign buyers are increasingly hesitant to visit Narayanganj’s garment factories, putting the city’s export-oriented industries at risk. Business organizations like BKMEA and the Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce express deep concerns that if this continues, it could lead to a significant downturn in garment exports and widespread economic impacts.
A recent inspection reveals that since the change in government on August 5, there has been a rise in unauthorized vehicles without route permits or fitness certificates on the roads.
Illegal parking, an increase in battery-powered rickshaws, and the occupation of sidewalks by street vendors add to the chaos. The Dhaka-Narayanganj link road, Chashara to Panchabati, and Adamjee road all suffer severe congestion. The situation is similar on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet highways.
Journeys that should take five minutes now take two to two-and-a-half hours, causing major disruptions for students, workers, and office-goers.
Daily work hours are being lost to this traffic gridlock. The slow pace of construction on the six-lane Panchabati-Muktarpur road, adjacent to the export-oriented garment district, also contributes to the issue. Rain worsens conditions, with flooded, potholed roads causing cargo-laden vehicles to topple, damaging goods and intensifying the congestion.
Transport personnel report that this small city has around 283 registered buses. Since the power shift, new air-conditioned buses have been introduced on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route, with approximately fifty operating regularly between the two cities. Besides these buses, there are also 10,000 to 12,000 battery-powered rickshaws, along with motorcycles, private cars, pickup vans, tankers, trucks, and tractors-all operating without control, turning a short five-to-ten-minute commute into an hour-long journey.
Despite the construction of large shopping complexes in the city, there is a severe lack of parking facilities. Sidewalks are blocked, and in central areas like Chashara, many private cars and motorbikes are parked directly on the streets, causing further delays. Unauthorized stands have sprung up everywhere, far outnumbering legal ones and creating additional traffic blockages.
Engineer Obaidur Rahman, in charge of the Panchabati-Muktarpur six-lane road construction, noted that underground facilities require frequent design changes, slowing construction. He promised that once completed, this project will benefit the community.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said, “Along with gas shortages, road and traffic issues have put business under threat. Even BSCIC’s chairman has personally witnessed the deteriorating road conditions at Fatullah’s BSCIC Industrial Area. These roads are nearly unusable for easy travel. Although we’ve held multiple discussions, BSCIC claims insufficient funds, yet continues to collect service charges from us, hindering production. Several factories are gradually shutting down.”
Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Masuduzzaman Masud remarked that the congestion is deterring foreign buyers. Their visits to BSCIC Industrial Area now take one-and-a-half to two hours, dissuading them from coming to Narayanganj altogether. He warns that if this situation persists, the economy and export sector will suffer severe impacts.
Superintendent of Police Pratyush Kumar Majumdar stated that after August 5, policing in Narayanganj weakened, allowing unauthorized vehicles like e-bikes and rickshaws to flood the area. Despite pressures from various quarters, the police have resumed a crackdown on unauthorized buses and, with the help of community police and local volunteers, are working toward easing traffic congestion. He expressed hope that with everyone’s cooperation, order will be restored, bringing relief to the people.