The mega city of Dhaka cannot afford the burden of 140 million people on its 360 kilometers of land. The concentrated populated itself poses a potential threat. The high-rise buildings, continuously rising industries, increasing number of transports and growing slums continue aggravating the situation. 60 percent of her citizens live beyond the city facilities in spite of their living in the ambit of the city. They throng to the city just to earn their living. Driven by extreme poverty, insecurity, river erosion, serious unemployment problem have sent them to this city. Quickly this situation cannot be changed. Environmentalists have expressed concern that the encroachment on the river Buriganga, the life line of Dhaka city, traffic congestion, pollution and diseases are turning this once majestic city into a choking hell. About fifty percent of the river's pollution load comes from the industrial source while sewerage and domestic wastes contribute to the remaining fifty percent. Between 1980-2009 the population of Dhaka has swelled from three million to more than ten million and its importance has increased manifold but the basic amenities have not kept up with the changes.. Water from the river Buriganga and Shitalakhya that would have supplemented the need of drinking water and other purposes such as cooking and washing has been fouled as much by raw sewerage as by a number of industrial and chemical units and even pesticides.

Traffic jam stands as the number one problem of Dhaka city. 93%city dwellers are directly related to it. It was followed by pollution 62 percent, higher fares 46 percent, and frequent accidents 26 percent, hijacking 26 percent The city's vehicle population has almost increased ten times since 1992 as a result of our failure to introduce mass transport. Eighty percent of the vehicles are three wheelers, small buses of the old days and cars which spew more than half the major pollutants. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, photochemical oxides e.g. ozone, nitrogen oxides, particular matter and lead are the main culprits .A recent study indicates that motor vehicles are a major or primary source of other toxic air pollutants including 1.3 butadiene, benzene and a number of carcinogens. In developed countries governments have fought for clean air by regulating all major and many minor sources of air pollution. Industrial emissions have been significantly reduced. As a result of new motor vehicle emission standards introduced in 1988, new vehicles in developed nations are 90 percent cleaner than those manufactured in 1970s.

The city dwellers, city planners, policy makes, the experts and researchers who think about the city will unanimously agree that Dhaka is one of the most unplanned cities of the world.

It is lengthy in south and northern directions while its width consisting of east and western directions is few kilometers only. There is hardly any scope of its expansion in eastern and western side to a visible extent.

There are different types of vehicles namely car, bus, jeep, truck, minibus, microbus, auto-rickshaw, tempo, mini-truck, motorcycles and innumerable rickshaws. Many of the vehicles that ply on Dhaka's streets daily are faulty and emit black smoke in excess of the prescribed limit. Black smoke is primary unburning carbon that agglomerates into small particles caused by over-load and faulty engine condition of vehicles. A two-stroke engine emits 30 times more pollution than a normal car.

Non-mechanized vehicles that mostly rickshaws fall the victim of any decision to ease traffic jam. Now question arises are cars more efficient than rickshaws in terms of road space occupancy? Despite constant claims of the city officials that rickshaws are the main source of traffic jams, data indicate that rickshwas are far superior to cars as far as road space occupancy and pollution contribution is concerned. In the base case, i.e. before the fuel-free transport ban, rickshaws made up 67.8% of vehicles, yet unlisted only 43.5% of road space to transport 59.4% of passengers. Cars made up only 6.4% of vehicles, yet occupied as much as 29.9% of the road space in the base case to transport far fewer passengers than by rickshaw. Despite being removed from the main roads, rickshaws are still the most popular mode of transport serving 30% of the passengers whereas cars serve only 8.5% of all types.

Making a separate line for rickshaws like Dhaka cantonment area mechanized and non-mechanized vehicles can be allowed to run without causing serious jam.

Traffic jam causes air pollution which affects the respiratory tract, causes irritation, headache, fatigue, asthma, high blood pressure, heart diseases and cancer. Experts say if this trend continues unabated, most residents of the metropolis would become exposed to the risk of those ailments and different other health hazards and complications. The development of mental fault of children would be impaired by lead pollution that could also affect the central nervous system and causes of urinal damage and hypertension. The massive traffic congestion taking its toll on human health should not be allowed any more. Behavior scientists have long since done experiments to show that even insects demonstrate aggressive behavior when they are placed in a crowded situation.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise to see that Dhaka's pedestrians, the rickshawpullers, babytaxi drivers, vanwallas, and bus and truck drivers all vie for tiny spaces with noticeable and utter disregard for other's right of way.

This obviously creates serious problems such as unnecessary traffic holdup and some unhappy incidents. Serious vehicular-related accidents are growing at an accelerated rate for growing traffic problem. It is reported that government has decided to withdraw about 70000 old and dilapidated vehicles from the road. Very old and decrepit vehicles will not be allowed to ply. All these measure are aimed at mitigating the problem. When will it see the light of implementation is unknown to us.

Growing insecurity in presence of law enforcing agencies and even sometimes their involvement in various forms make the city dwellers and the guest dwellers who come to city just do get their official and business work done make panic stricken. Everyday pickpockets, hijackers and extortionists rein the city in every nook and corner. Only the victim knows how much painful it is. To our utter surprise the victims don't have any place to lay complaint and they take the law in their hands. Someone will say why not in the police station. Actually no victim wants to go there just to avoid further harassment. Only God knows when this situation will change. Again, mob beating or unleashing torture in the doubt of pickpocket or hijackers is another serous concern of this city. Sometimes it may happen that the gang of pickpockets or hijackers attack any ordinary passenger or passers -by just to save themselves. So, in no way people should be allowed to take law in their own hands. Strict law must be imposed regarding this matter.

Extremely unbearable price of foodstuff of all kinds have plagued the city dwellers. It actually bites them like poisonous bees with its sting. The members of the present government showed extreme sympathy for the people during the time of caretaker government as people felt a fish out of water situation because of price spiral.

They attributed the cause to caretaker government's inexperience to run the state. Now the price has gone beyond all time limit and people are but no sign of reducing the price is heard. We just hear 'if any body is involved in raising price of essentials, stern action would be taken against them'. This fake promise cannot give any consolation to the city dwellers.

Schooling the children has crossed the limit of seventy percent guardians but no authority is here to do anything. Just meetings and seminars are held but any real action or measure is taken how to reduce the schooling fee and reduce the dependence on private coaching. Guardians no more can bear the educational expenses though it is said that primary education is free and compulsory for all. Actually state does not manage primary education in Dhaka city. Yes, some government primary schools are situated in the city but without education and without any facility. Why does this fake promise of ensuring primary education for all? City guardians are to buy education at a very higher price which they cannot afford any more.

Now what should we do? Do we need to get ready for death or just continue with this moribund state of leading the life? No. humans should not lose heart. We should establish different forums totally free from political poisonous teeth.

The medias both print and electronic must come forward to play the real and philanthropic role to make Dhaka habitable for the present generation and the posterity. Media, volunteers, philanthropists, environmentalists, educationists, NGOs, students, religious leaders avoiding absolutely all kinds of political affiliations thinking should form different citizen forum and maintain regular communication with the service sector authorities such as WASA, BTCL, City Corporation and business leaders. The editors of all Bengali and English newspapers and the chairmen of all print media can take real initiatives in this regard to bring some positive change in the life of the citizens. The media retains huge power which must be utilized for making the city habitable with other positive and constructive functions they perform.

Reality and planing of DCC to control traffic jams.
DCC or Dhaka City Corporation is the execute to care of Dhaka city. As their opinion to control traffic jams, they describe it as following:
The number of vehicles in the city is increasing manifolds. The incessant traffic flow on the roads has virtually made it impossible for pedestrians to cross the roads as well as create the traffic jams in the city. In view of this the DCC has contracted of overhead pedestrians bridges.
List of Foot Over Bridges, Under Passes and Flyover in Dhaka City
Steel Foot Over Bridge • Shewrapara • Testuri Bazar • Banani- Kakoli • Shahabag-PG Shaid • Ahalad Hossain Market • Fulbaria (BRTC Bus Stand) • Hotel Ilishium- Hatkhola Road • Mugdapara, Janapath Road • Jatrabari Intersection • Cantonment Shaid Anwar School and College • Sahin School and College, Airport Road On Construction Steel Foot Over Bridge • Zia Colony, Airport Road • In front of Press Club • In front of Wills Little Flower School • Zia Colony • Adjacent to Garrison Cinema Hall • C.M. H (Cantonment)
Pre staged Guarder Foot Over Bridge(Crash Program 3rd Pilot Project) • Mirpur, Section - 1 • Mirpur, Section - 10 • Intersection of Mirpur Road and Science Laboratory • Poribagh • Janopath Road Basabo Intersection • Badda-Nuton Bazar Crossing • In front of Uttara - Rajlakhmi Complex • Infront of Tejgaon Politecnical Institute • Rokeya Soroni, Kazipara Bus Stand • Sonargaon Road BUET • In front of DIT Road Rampura Akamunnesa School
RCC Foot Over Bridge • Farm Gate Intersection • Ananda Cinema Hall (Farm Gate) • Shamolli Cinema Hall • Behind the Baitul Mukkarram Mosque • In front of Mouchuck Market • In front of Ramna I.E.B. • Sadarghat • Dhaka Court • New Market
Steel Foot Over Bridge Constructed under • Mirpur Road near Asad Gate • Mirpur Road near Panthapath • Mirpur Road near Kallyanpur Bus Stop • Airport Road near Al-Razi Hospital • RK. Mission Road-Janapath Intersection • Badda Alatunnesa High School • Nabisco Junction on Moghbazar-Mohakhali Road • Azimpur Girl's High School and College • Nilkhet Intersection near Bakushah Market • Banani Chairman Bari on New Airport Road • HBFC Intersection, Uttara • Mirpur Road near Dhanmondi Govt. High School
Flyover
• Jatrabari Flyover • Mohakhali Flyover • Khilgaon Flyover
Under Passes • Fulistan Under Pass • Kawran Bazar Under Pass • Gabtoli Under Pass
But, our question is when Dhaka would be release from traffic jams.
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