People in Dhaka and across the country are exasperated by the chaotic, inefficient public transport system. Previous governments failed to develop an efficient system. Abrupt and disjointed measures meant to fix public transport only made things more chaotic. As a result, mobility for regular commuters is costly in time, safety and money. Over the past few decades, various studies have addressed problems such as unbearable traffic congestion and road indiscipline. Short-term and long-term plans were made. Still, except for the introduction of the metro rail service in Dhaka, no effective measure was taken to alleviate the suffering linked to daily commute by millions. Now that the newly elected government has assumed power with a two-thirds majority in parliament, a valid question has come to the fore. Will it prioritise the issue of addressing the chaotic system of public transport?
In its 48-page election manifesto, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) outlined measures to make public transport more efficient, acknowledging that the country faces serious obstacles from inefficiency and disorder in the transport sector. In this context, the manifesto stressed special initiatives "to expand and improve the public transport system to alleviate traffic congestion and make public transport more effective and accessible in densely populated cities." The assertion reflects a proper understanding of the problem, which is necessary before taking any measures to fix it.
The manifesto's measures include relocating inter-district bus terminals and illegal truck stands outside the city, freeing footpaths from illegal encroachment, and gradually removing slow-moving, unsafe, and unsuitable vehicles from the roads. If the government takes strong steps to keep footpaths free and well-maintained, it will reduce traffic congestion, as people will walk more easily for short distances. Providing safe walkways can also reduce the need for para-transit, easing street congestion. Currently, para-transits like motorcycles and battery-run rickshaws have increased congestion, making traffic movement chaotic and disorganised. Stringent measures are needed to curb the spread of these para-transits, along with better alternatives to improve daily commuters' mobility.
An important commitment of the party's manifesto is the implementation of the bus route rationalisation programme through coordination of urban planning and transport policy. Though the programme was recognised by the ousted Hasina regime as a critical step towards improving overall traffic movement in Dhaka, no effective action was taken. In the name of route rationalisation and franchisation, deliberations and meetings were held aplenty, along with a trial run of dedicated buses on a few routes. The move did not yield any benefit due to non-cooperation from transport owners and law-enforcement agencies.
It is well known that the public transport sector in the country is heavily criminalised due to rampant illegal toll backed by the political party in power. For more than 15 years, leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) controlled the illegal extortion, and it was not unknown to the Hasina-led government. Nevertheless, the BAL did not try to curb the criminalisation.
After the fall of the tyrannical government on August 5, 2024, new extortionists replaced those who had controlled the transport sector. The Yunus-led interim regime was unable to stop them, so chaos in public transport continued. Commuters in Dhaka still struggle daily with ramshackle, unfit, air and sound-polluting buses. The new government needs to crack down on illegal extortion from the start to discipline the public transport sector by gradually implementing the election manifesto.
The new transport minister's recent statement regarding extortion gives a disappointing message. Within three days of taking charge, he publicly stated that money collected from transport operators on the roads through mutual agreement is not extortion, but a contribution. He also added that if someone is forced to pay, it is surely extortion. His remarks drew strong criticism from different quarters for valid reasons, and many interpreted the minister's statement as an endorsement of illegal extortion in the transport sector. The minister needs to be careful in making any comments, especially on issues like extortion in the transport sector, as people are fed up. They are also in no mood to listen to a lecture on the difference between collecting money through mutual understanding and forceful collection or extortion. Instead, the transport minister and his team need to focus on implementing their manifesto to fix chaotic public transport.
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