Roads and lanes surrounding the Mohakhali Bus Terminal have turned into an extensive parking lot for long-distance buses. Illegal parking on roads not only disrupts the flow of traffic but also causes immense suffering for commuters.
Buses are parked haphazardly on both sides of the roads from Mohakhali to Nabisco, including Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road, Nabisco Road, Rahim Metal Masjid Road, and surrounding areas. Such illegal parking is causing a lot of inconvenience to other road users and severely impacting the lives of local residents and commuters.
Despite the presence of traffic police, transport workers continue to park buses on roads illegally.
Police said even though traffic department is making efforts to enforce rules, they continue to violate rules. When traffic police ask for necessary documents, bus drivers often delay compliance. Besides, measures cannot be implemented effectively due to interference from labour organisations.
Mohakhali is home to several hospitals, including ICDDRB, DNCC Corona Hospital, and Universal Medical College Hospital Ltd. Patients from Dhaka and surrounding areas often face immense difficulties due to traffic jam caused by illegal parking.
An Ansar member posted at the DNCC Corona Hospital gate said, “Many patients come from outside Dhaka, but ambulances face obstructions due to long-distance buses parked at the gate, causing immense suffering for those seeking medical services. When we ask bus drivers or helpers to move, they often respond aggressively.”
Additionally, there are nine CNG filling stations from Nabisco to Mohakhali where vehicles queue up, causing nagging gridlock. No extra space exists for these stations, so vehicles line up on the roads, worsening the traffic congestion.
During recent visit, this correspondent saw rows of illegally parked buses next to the terminal. From Nabisco to Mohakhali, buses occupy a significant portion of one lane. Besides, many buses are also parked on Gulshan-Tejgaon Link road, Nabisco Road, Rahim Metal Masjid Road and its adjacent lanes and by-lanes.
Bus parking on the Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road and its adjacent areas has choked the footpath, turning the area into a hotspot for mugging gangs from evening to midnight.
Additionally, when buses exit the Mohakhali terminal, traffic congestion worsens further. Even passengers are picked up from the opposite side of the terminal, causing further disruption.
Samrat Goni, a bus driver, said, “We can’t always park inside the terminal. Even when we do, it often takes a long time to exit. Police frequently ask us to relocate, but we prefer keeping our buses there. Sometimes, we face fines and threat of being towed away.”
Transport companies like Soukhin Express, Rajib, Binimoy, Ekta, Rifat Transport, Imam, Alam Asia, Sonar Bangla, Islam Transport, Labiba, PPL Super, Dhrutogami, Jolsiri, Ujan-Bhati, Samrat Transport, and Ananya Transport have buses parked illegally along the roadside.
Mohammad Alauddin, an employee at a private company on Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road, shared his experience: “After work, I used to walk from Anik Tower to Mohakhali Bus Terminal to catch the bus to my home in Kalshi. However, I was mugged twice because parked buses on Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road. People on the road couldn’t see what was happening on the footpath, giving muggers the opportunity to target pedestrians.”
Sohrab Hossain, a passenger affected by the traffic, said, “I commute from Shewera to Gulistan every day and always face traffic jam from Mohakhali to Satrasta. The only reason for traffic congestion is the long-distance buses parked on both sides of the road.”
Despite various initiatives by the Gulshan Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to ease traffic congestion in front of Mohakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal, buses continue to park there.
Abdul Momen, Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said, “The road in front of Mohakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal is very busy. Long-distance buses are not allowed to stay there for long, and our officers quickly move them. Sometimes, drivers or helpers do not comply with rules, but we try our best.”
“We have taken measures to ease public suffering around Mohakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal. We are doing our level best to reduce traffic congestion,” he added.
Sadiqur Rahman Hiru, president of the Dhaka District Bus Minibus Road Transport Workers Union, said, “Due to the terminal’s capacity being exceeded, drivers sometimes park buses on the road. We are aware of public inconvenience and strive to ease traffic jam. Our federation’s volunteers constantly monitor and remove buses and minibuses from the road.”
