Traffic chaos in Dhaka: Passengers sleep on roads from Gulistan to Sadarghat

The three-kilometer stretch from Gulistan to Sadarghat in Dhaka has become a nightmare for commuters, with many passengers, including women and children,  no choice but to sleep on the road while stuck in gridlock. 

The daily gridlock, exacerbated by poorly managed traffic and illegal parking, has turned what should be a 20-minute walk into a grueling one to one-and-a-half-hour ordeal for vehicles.  

On Sunday morning, the Daily Observer witnessed the plight of commuters, many of whom were seen sleeping in buses and rickshaws due to the exhausting delays. 

Ayesha, a fifth-grade student at St. Gregory High School in Old Dhaka, shared her frustration: "Many people get tired when school is over. So many people fall asleep. I also fall asleep. And after sleeping for an hour and a half, I see Fulbaria in Gulistan."  

Kamrunnahar, a regular commuter, echoed similar sentiments. "We travel to school in Old Dhaka with our son and daughter. And we travel sleeping. We have all become accustomed to this," she said.  

The traffic congestion is particularly severe from Sunday to Thursday, with slight relief on Fridays and Saturdays. Homebound travelers from the southern part of the country, as well as students, professionals, and litigants, are among those most affected. Abdul Karim, another passenger, lamented, "We sleep and fall asleep at this time. Because we have a long way to go. So what can we do? We fall asleep."  

The root of the problem lies in the chaotic mix of vehicles and illegal parking. Trucks, pickup vans, lorries, rickshaws, and pushcarts often occupy more than half of the road to load and unload goods from the numerous wholesale shops lining the route. From Fulbaria bus stand to Bangshal Alubazar, shops selling plastic products, pipes, and sanitary items clog the roads, while the stretch from Alubazar to Tantibazar intersection is dominated by iron, steel, and construction material businesses. 

Local resident Abdul Haque highlighted the issue: "From morning to midnight, trucks, pickup vans, lorries, and various vehicles used to transport goods from these wholesale shops occupy more than half of the road on both sides."  

Students like Nabanita from Jagannath University, who commute daily on this route, are among the worst affected. "We are all wasting our time due to the severe traffic jam. And we have to leave home with an extra two to three hours to reach our destination," she said.  

Despite police efforts to control traffic at key intersections like Raisaheb Bazar, Bahadur Shah Park, and Jagannath University, the situation remains dire. The presence of the Judge Court and CMH Court further adds to the congestion, as people travel to these locations for legal and medical matters.  

The daily suffering of commuters on this route underscores the urgent need for effective traffic management and infrastructure improvements. Until then, the road from Gulistan to Sadarghat will continue to be a symbol of Dhaka's relentless traffic chaos, forcing passengers to sleep their way through the gridlock.