‘This city is not ready for the law’

No passengers stood on the bus. It did not stop without any stoppage and the door was completely shut. 

Abdullahpur to Sayedabad bound Asmani Paribahan's driver seemed strange to all the passengers.

Nothing is wrong with the bus and it has fitness clearance, the driver Md Hafiz Uddin said, adding he does not want to take any risk on the road. 

"I have read the new law and I think it could change the Dhaka road scenario," Hafiz said. 

Rahat Mahmud, a student of East West University, said it took him only 10 minutes to reach Rampura Bridge instead of usual 30 minutes.

However, Keya Chowdhury who lives in both Dhaka and Chattogram cities for study claimed: "Nothing can change the Dhaka roads. The city is incapable of enacting the new law."

"I would use the new foot overbridge in front of Jamuna Future Park to go to Basundhara Residential Area but there is a long queue all the time. The bridge is not just enough for this many people. I don't know what will happen when all the people start following the new law," Keya said. 

Quader Helal, a businessman, claimed he has all the necessary documents for his car but still worried about the provision for parking in the new law.

"I have a parking lot in my Banani office but when I go to any government office I don't find any parking space," Quader said.

"Is it possible to pay Tk5,000 on the road for a single offence? The authority should think again," Mohammad Iqbal, a passenger of public transport said.

Jamil Muhammd, a ride-sharing driver, claimed that they are being blamed for traffic congestion and mismanagement on the roads. 

"No one bothers about the bus drivers who violate the law in most cases, creating long tailbacks. Even the traffic sergeants don't go hard with rule-breaking bus drivers," he angered. 

 Shahnewaz, a motorcyclist, said if the authority strongly monitors the bus drivers and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), things might change.   

To get a driving license, a lot of people are now crowding the BRTA offices. 

Johar Muhammad, a motorcyclist, came to Uttara Diabari BRTA Regional Office to attend a physical test for driving license.  

"I've been here before, many times, but never saw this many people. All of them have come to ensure that their driving license is okay," Johar said.

Another motorcyclist, Azizul Hakim said he has waited for at least 6 months for a smart driving license. "The authority has rescheduled the date to next year. What would I do now when the traffic police stop me?" he asked.   

Another license seeker Ariful Islam claimed he had to bribe Tk2,400 to get his smart driving license card. 

Motor Vehicle Inspector Sajedul Alam of BRTA Uttara Regional Office, however, denied the allegation and said a vested group is using BRTA officers' name. 

"Many people apply for the license; that's why they have to wait for a few months. We are doing our best to make the service better," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam has said case will be filed if the pedestrians do not use foot overbridges and zebra crossing.

"For breaking traffic rules, cases will be filed using the previous slip system for the time being," Shafiqul said while briefing media on the Road Transport Act 2018 at the DMP media centre in Dhaka today.

He said: "Point of Sale machine will be introduced from the next week to smoothen the case process."

No case will be filed under the new law for one week, the DMP commissioner assured, adding strong actions will be taken if any police sergeant tries to terrify people in the name of the new law.

Traffic police will help people cross the roads where traffic facilities like zebra crossings are not available, Shafiqul elaborated.