Traffic jam returns as school starts in full swing

The nagging traffic jam is back to the city on the heels of opening full-fledged schooling that kicked off yesterday (Tuesday) after a long gap.

The city streets were choked with stationary traffic upsetting the commuters customarily.

The secondary and higher secondary institutions reopened earlier in February while the primary and finally pre-primary classes got underway just yesterday.

At the start of full-phase school classes, a typically acute tailback was sighted in the capital.  An intense hot weather coupled with traffic jam sent a kind of shockwave among the city people.

With the increased penetration of social media platforms like Facebook, people are demonstrating their frustration, with some posting different photos showing commuters as well as parents with their school-returning kids walking along the streets helplessly.

Journalist and writer Anisul Haque wrote on his verified Facebook page, “Google Map said if you take Nazrul Islam Avenue, you will save four minutes. It will then take 22 minutes. I skipped the Maghbazar flyover to save four minutes. But an hour and a half passed ... ami opar hoye bose achi….”

Severe traffic jams were seen in different parts of the capital including Mohakhali, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Banglamotor, Shahbag, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur since Tuesday morning while law enforcement agencies are struggling to handle the traffic movement.

Traffic police say school will run in full swing from today (Tuesday). Parents have brought their kids to various educational institutions since morning and many of them have cars with them for which traffic jam is occurring.

Shahed Al Masud, deputy commissioner of Traffic, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Tejgaon Division, said many school-bound vehicles were parked on roadside, thus leading to obstacle to traffic movement.

With the opening of schools and colleges in full phase, the number of vehicles on the road has increased, he said, adding that the pressure of office-going people and the kids with their parents moving to school have intensified traffic jams.

“We are struggling to cope up with, but we are doing our best,” said the official.