Severe traffic jam in Dhaka due to high number of bikes

Staff Reporter  :
As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, Dhaka city is experiencing severe traffic congestion due to the high number of ridesharing motorbikes on various city streets crisscrossed the capital. The motorbikes can be seen parked at all bus stands including Mirpur, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Paltan, Matijheel, and Gulshan areas, creating a narrower road and causing problems for other vehicles.
According to city residents, they use motorbikes to reach their destinations quickly, but the huge number of motorbikes are contributing severe traffic congestion in the capital, especially in the areas were development works like Metro Rail are going on.
The result is that the city is experiencing severe traffic congestion for hours on end, causing frustration and delays for commuters.
One resident, Mohammad Hasan, said, “I have been stuck in traffic for more than an hour just to reach my office from Shyamoli to Matijheel by bus, which is only a few kilometers away. It is so frustrating that the motorbikes do not follow traffic rules, and this is causing problems for everyone”.
Another resident, Arifur Rahman, commented, “People are risking their lives by riding recklessly driven motorbikes, and this needs to be addressed before things get out of hand”.
Zahedul Islam, a 27-year-old motorbike rider, shared his story with this correspondent while waiting in the traffic jam in Karwan Bazar bus stand.
He said that he comes to Dhaka from Narayanganj every day to earn a living by transporting passengers on his motorbike. He mentioned that the days leading up to Eid-ul-Fitr are particularly busy for him as many people need transportation services.
Zahedul is not alone in this business. There are many motorbike riders who come from different parts surrounding the capital to make a living.
However, their work contributes to the traffic congestion, which is already a major issue in Dhaka. The increasing number of motorbikes on the roads during the festival season is exacerbating the problem.
Zahedul acknowledged that some motorbike riders do not follow traffic rules, which can lead to accidents and put other road users at risk.
He believes that strict enforcement of traffic laws and regulations can help mitigate the traffic problem in the city.
Private car owners claim that the motorbikes often collide with their vehicles, causing dents and other damages, leading to unpleasant situations.
The traffic department of Dhaka has stated that the massive influx of motorbikes in the city has been causing extensive traffic congestions that last for hours, and they have been making efforts to enforce traffic regulations for these vehicles.
“The increasing number of motorbikes in different parts of the capital is contributing to severe traffic congestion. We are making efforts to bring them under traffic rules,” Md Munibur Rahman, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic), told the New Nation.
“This is really a big challenge for controlling the huge number of motorbikes compared to the road capacity when the existing road is already overloaded with other transports,” he said.
Previously, ride-sharing motorbikes used to operate through App-based ride-share services including Pathao, Uber and the like. However, many of the motorbikes are now being operated under passenger contracts.
The bikers said they don’t want to share their earning with the ride-sharing apps. This is one of the factors contributing to the increasing number of motorbikes in the capital, which in turn is causing severe traffic congestion.