Joint initiatives crucial to ease Dhaka’s traffic congestion: DMP
Staff Reporter :
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali on Thursday underscored the importance of collective and coordinated action among all concerned agencies to enhance the capital’s traffic management system.
He made the remarks while addressing an orientation seminar marking the conclusion of the Dhaka Road Traffic Safety Project (DRSP), organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at a city hotel.
Describing traffic congestion as one of Dhaka’s most pressing urban challenges, the DMP Commissioner said police are working to identify its underlying causes and maintain a manageable situation on the roads.
“Urban planning must be forward-looking. We have to build our city keeping future needs in mind,” he said, stressing that public awareness and compliance with traffic laws are essential to restoring order on the streets. Speaking as a special guest, JICA Chief Representative Tomohide Ichiguchi said the DRSP is not just a project but a long-term partnership between Japan and Bangladesh.
He noted that since its launch in 2021, the project has achieved notable progress in enhancing road safety in Dhaka.
Bangladesh is currently one of the largest recipients of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), receiving around USD 2 billion annually, and JICA remains committed to supporting the country’s continued development, he added.
Project Director and DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Dr Md Zillur Rahman, in his welcome remarks, said the DRSP-implemented with JICA’s assistance-is approaching successful completion.
He expressed hope that the skills and insights gained from the initiative would make a lasting impact on Dhaka’s traffic management system.
According to JICA, the project has, over the past three years, strengthened DMP’s operational capacity and increased public awareness of road safety through training programmes involving some 6,400 students from 48 educational institutions.
The seminar was attended by officials from Dhaka North and South City Corporations, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), Accident Research Institute (ARI), BRTA, BRTC, JICA, and senior DMP officers.