The Dhaka University authorities have imposed
restriction on entry of external vehicles inside the campus which has significantly
reduced traffic congestion in the area, ensuring safe and comfortable movement
of the students.
Students of the university welcomed the move, saying it is a bold initiative
of the authority for ensuring an education-friendly and noise-pollution free
environment.
In a notice published by the proctor's office on December 14, the
university authorities banned entry of all types of vehicles through
all the entrances (Shahbag, Doyel Chattar, Burn Unit, Shibbari
Crossing, Fuller Road, Palashi and Nilkhet) from 3pm to 10pm on
Fridays, Saturdays and other government holidays.
Besides, movement of external vehicles inside the campus has been
banned from 5pm to 10pm on general working days.
Only vehicles with DU stickers and emergency vehicles, including
ambulances, media, and government cars, will be permitted inside the
campus, the notice said.
Talking to BSS, Jannatul Wakia, a residential student of Ruqayyah
Hall, welcomed the decision of the university administration and said
the step to limit vehicle entrance in the campus is a great initiative
of the present university administration which the previous administrations
couldn’t even dare to take.
“Due to external vehicle movement, I faced problems many times in the
campus area. Sometimes, it took 20 minutes to go to Ruqayyah Hall from
TSC. Moreover, I have hearing problem, so I cannot tolerate loud sound,”
she said while sharing bitter experiences about her five-year
campus life.
She said, adding she was pushed by rickshaws and motorcycles several times
while crossing the roads near the TSC Metrorail station.
Another student named Bristi from the same hall shared similar experiences
and mentioned that she was glad that the university has set limitation on
vehicles entering Dhaka University campus in a particular time of the day.
She said, “Before it was horrific for me to cross the roads even
in the campus area. But now I can cross the road easily.”
Another student named Rukaiya Binte Mofiz shared her dreadful
experience in the campus area on her Facebook timeline.
“I and my friend were on our way to the exam hall on November 19.
We were on a rickshaw. When we reached near the TSC area, a private
car hit our rickshaw and drove away. I fell down from the rickshaw.
But luckily, I had a minor injury,” she wrote expressing her
disappointment over the incident.
Moniruzzaman, a student of Sir AF Rahman hall of Dhaka University,
said it was a timely measure of the Dhaka University
administration, which will help ensure safer environment for students in the campus.
DU proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said, “This is a university. We cannot
allow external vehicles to use this campus as a bypass road. It is risky
for our students, teachers and staffs. It is nearly impossible to reverse the decision.”
Asked about public sufferings, he said, “I know the city dwellers are
suffering a little for this and I’m sorry for this. But we are
trying to improve the management every day. We are regularly
consulting with experts and traffic administration. They assured us to
provide best cooperation to this end. We have decided to create emergency
lanes for the ambulances and the vehicles that are authorized to enter
the campus.”
“Our boys are not expert and trained as a result some unexpected
incidents are occurring. But this problem will disappear soon. For
BUET we have opened our Polashi road and allowed vehicles to move
through. Again traffic jam in Dhaka city is not a new phenomenon but the way
people is accuse us for it (traffic congestion) is very painful for us,” he added.
Mehedi Hasan Shakil, assistant Police Commissioner (Traffic) of DMP
Shahbagh zone, said, “Due to the closure of the university roads,
there is more traffic jam in Shahbagh, Nilkhet area than before.
Earlier, the traffic jam would end by 7 pm or 7:30 pm, now the traffic jam
continues till 8 pm to 9 pm.”
“Due to the excessive traffic jam, we have increased the number of
traffic police in some places for that specific time. Since this road
is closed when the office hours’ end, the traffic jam is more,” he
added.
Source: BSS