Once envisioned as a central hub for inter-district travel, Sayedabad Bus Terminal is now thrown into disarray. It has virtually become a spot where crime is rife without any interruption.
Encroaching pavement, disorganised bus parking, extortion, illegal stalls, and a disturbing presence of drug dealing and political harbouring of wrongdoers have turned the terminal and the surrounding areas into a hotspot of criminal activities much to the sufferings of the locals.
Although a plan was initiated over 15 years ago to build a modern terminal on the city’s outskirts, the project has yet to see the light of day. Instead, the designated space for the new terminal has become a stronghold for drug peddling and illegal occupation.
A recent visit to the terminal revealed that buses are being halted along the main road from Sayedabad Terminal to Jatrabari Kitchen Market on the pretext of picking up passengers.
The terminal itself, although equipped with seating facilities, remains devoid of passengers. Terminal personnel were seen gossiping idly in empty lounges, and the city corporation’s designated canteen has long been locked and abandoned.
Moreover, boundary walls have been broken down to create makeshift paths, now serving as thoroughfares for drug dealers. Local sources confirm that drug sales occur openly along these routes every day.
A portion of the Hanif Flyover within the terminal premises regularly hosts a drug market from late afternoon to late night, drawing an increasing number of addicts and dealers. The terminal area has largely turned into a garage for various transport companies, prioritising vehicle repair and parking over passenger services, thus worsening public inconvenience and safety concerns.
Vehicles including buses, microbuses, and freight carriers are routinely parked along the roads adjacent to the terminal, contributing significantly to traffic snarl across Dhaka. Inter-district buses continue to operate from privately owned, commission-based counters run by transport owners, increasing the chaos.
Numerous bus companies operate multiple counters in areas like Abdullahpur, Shyamoli, Kalyanpur, Rajarbagh, Arambagh, Malibagh, Tikatuli, Sayedabad Janapath Intersection, Jatrabari, Dolairpar, and Kamalapur—without central oversight.
Illegal stalls, hawkers, and extortion gangs have also occupied the public pathways obstructing movement of pedestrians around the terminal. Despite the presence of law enforcement and city corporation officials, no significant action appears to have been taken to fix the problems.
Shah Alam, a driver of the "Brahmanbaria Express", said, “We have verbal permission from the traffic department to park here. We're simply following the owner’s instructions.”
Mohammad Abdur Rahman from “Himachal Express” denied encroaching on footpaths, claiming, “All 10 of our counters are rented legally.” However, field visits revealed that these counters are indeed occupying footpaths with signboards and makeshift shelters, hindering pedestrian movement and creating road disorder.
An official statement reads: “Since 5 August, we have taken over terminal operations and are working tirelessly to ensure security, passenger service, road discipline, and reduced congestion. We’ve deployed help desks, volunteers, and supervisors while cracking down on extortion, hawkers, and drugs.”
Responding to questions about unregulated counters and extended parking, Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association Joint Secretary Iqbal Hashem Khan blamed “a reign of chaos created over the last 17 years by mafia groups patronised by the ruling Awami League.” He added that efforts are underway to shut down unauthorised counters and temporary terminals within the city.
According to Terminal Superintendent Md Golam Sarwar, there are nine permanent shops and 77 token-allotted stalls from the South City Corporation in the area. However, none are reportedly paying revenue to the city corporation due to an ongoing court injunction that prevents eviction. Sarwar added that more illegal stalls have sprung up since 5 August, under the protection of politically influential figures.
Some transport workers alleged that daily extortion is a common phenomenon for stall and counter operations. While police and corporation personnel are visible during the day, effective enforcement is very few and far between.
Members of the Dhaka District Bus-Minibus-Coach Workers Union revealed that in 2009, the government planned to relocate four major terminals outside the city. For Sayedabad’s relocation, a project was initiated at Sonapur, Sonargaon, at a cost of Tk 260 million. Although land-filling and basic infrastructure were completed, the project has been entirely stalled.
Deputy Police Commissioner (DC) of the Wari Traffic Division, Md Azad Rahman, said, “Saidabad terminal is very small. Yet, buses from 42 districts operate here regularly. So, it’s not unusual for traffic congestion to occur. To resolve this issue, the terminal must first be expanded. Secondly, all parties involved with the terminal need to work in coordination.”
He added,“All transport ticket counters must be brought inside the terminal as soon as possible. This will reduce pressure on the roads and help ensure smooth traffic flow.”
Zahid Al Latif (Khoka), the Organizing Secretary of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association and Supervisor of the Saidabad Bus Terminal, said:
“Saidabad Terminal was originally a community Centre, which was hastily converted into a terminal during the Ershad regime. Since then, it has been used for passenger transport, but no modernization or structural renovation has been done. Every year, the government collects several crores of taka in lease revenue from this terminal, but no development has taken place.”
He further stated, “While terminals in developed countries are passenger-friendly and equipped with modern facilities, terminals in Bangladesh have consistently been neglected. Certain parties within the city corporation and the transport sector are involved in embezzling thousands of crores of taka on the pretext of terminal relocation. Moreover, some transport owners are using the terminal as a garage, which is further complicating the situation.”
