S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
With the Eid-ul-Fitr festival approaching nearer, traffic system has virtually collapsed in the Sylhet, causing untold sufferings for commuters and shoppers.
City dwellers said they have been experiencing severe traffic congestion on different streets for the last couple of days.
”Commuters now have to spend at least two hours for a short distance journey in the Sylhet which usually takes only 15 to 20 minutes,” said Yusuf Ali, a resident of Shibgonj.
Indiscriminate road digging, heavy rush of people towards shopping malls and plying of excessive vehicles, including slow-moving rickshaws on different busy roads, are mainly blamed for the nagging traffic congestion. Potholes have developed on many roads due to the last few days of heavy rain, worsening the traffic situation in the Sylhet.
Sylhet city people alleged that vendors have begun to occupy footpaths and some parts of lanes, by-lanes and wider roads before Ramadan.
There are allegations that these vendors are encroaching upon most of the vacant places in connivance with a section of law enforcers and officials of both city corporations.
Many roads are still unrepaired that hinders normal traffic movement. ”It seems that traffic congestion has been a perennial problem in the Sylhet,” said Shah Sadek, a trader of Hasaan Market.
Office-goers are the worst sufferers of the traffic jam, he said.
Traffic congestion is everywhere from the main thoroughfares to narrow lane and by-lane in the last couple of days, many city dwellers alleged.
City dwellers said a large number of bus passengers got standard on different busy thoroughfares in the last couple of days and many of them were also seen returning to their destinations on foot.
Najmeen, a student of Shahjalal City College, alleged that they have been facing severe traffic congestion for the last several days. ”Often I fail to attend my class in time due to traffic congestion,” she added.
Abdur Rahman, a resident of Kadomtoly area, said ‘We are now facing severe traffic congestion on different city streets.’
A transport worker alleged that some unscrupulous traffic policemen in the name of searching their documents realise toll from them by stopping their running vehicles on the busy roads and highways, which is also causing severe traffic congestion.
Most of the city streets, including Traffic congestion is acute in Kinbridge Mour, Railway Station, Kadamtoli busterminal, Surma Point, Zindabazar, Subhanighat, Mirabazar, Chouhatta, Lamabazar, Rekabibazar, Darghagate area faced severe traffic congestion on Sunday.
SMP ADC Jedan Al-Mosa told that a huge number of vehicles were on the city streets in the last several days compared to other days.
Besides, mad rush of shopping mall-bound people, excessive vehicles and setting up iftar bazar beside busy roads and thoroughfares are causing traffic congestion in many areas in the Sylhet, he added.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Commissioner Gulam Kibria said, ‘The rush is due to the beginning of Ramadan as most of the people return from their offices to take part in family iftar.’
Besides, many people, mostly women and children, started moving on different shopping malls, creating severe traffic congestion in and around each market, he added.
Illegal occupation of footpaths setting up iftar bazar and other temporary stalls during Ramadan pushes the pedestrians on roads hindering the free movement of vehicles.
