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Demand to stop illegal parking in footpaths and roads

There is a loss of 23,000 crore taka every year because of the traffic jam in Dhaka. Only 5% trips are conducted by cars in Dhaka city. But they are being prioritized by ignoring those who walks, use cycle or public transit. It is mentioned in the law to prioritize pedestrian first. But we cannot see that in reality. There is absence of footpaths in maximum roads. And in some places there are footpaths but broken and uneven. In some roads we can see wide footpaths but those have been occupied by private cars. Using the ramp for the wheel chair users private car owners park their car in the footpaths. In Dhanmondi Sat Masjid Road we can see this type of illegal parking in front of universities, hospitals, offices and markets. This is causing traffic jam as well as creating obstacles while walking. On 8th September 2015 11 am, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Orunodoyer Torun Dol, Mastul Foundation, Shohay Unnoyon Shongstha and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust jointly organized a program in front of Abahoni Playground on the demand to stop illegal parking in footpaths and roads.       

Speakers of the program said that, parking fee should be increased considering space and time. It will help to decrease the usage of private cars and at the same time it will decrease pollution. National Integrated Multi Modal transportation Policy 2013 has addressed the pedestrian first. The policy is being violated. Relevant organizations must take it into concern. To reduce traffic jam, pollution and parking related problems the usage of cars should be controlled. Car parking in the busy roads should be totally banned. Bollards can be provided in the footpaths to avoid car and other motor vehicle parking. Walking facilities and a convenient public transport should be provided.

Speakers of the program were Naznin Kabir, Deputy Program Manager; Ziaur Rahman Litu, Senior Project Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust;  Atiq Morshed, Program Coordinator, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Shahidul Islam Babu, Chairman, Orunodoyer Torun Dol, Sheikh Muhammad Yousuf Hossain, Executive Director, Shohay Unnoyon Shongstha, Md. ShamimJahan< Dhaka University and Monir Hossain Nishat, Public Relation Manager, Mastul Foundation. Besides Md Atiqur Rahman, Project Officer; Tanzila Haque, Assistant Advocacy Officer, Ayesha Arafat Ikra, Assistant Project Officer, WBB Trust; Nasir Mahbubul Islam, Kazi Abu Sayeed, Mastul Foundation and many more were present in the program. The program was moderated by Naima Akter, Assistant Advocacy Officer, WBB Trust.