ADB Vice-President Zhang describes his traffic ordeal in Dhaka to Bangladesh PM

ADB Vice-President Wencai Zhang has narrated his first encounter with the notorious Dhaka traffic to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Bangladesh Development Forum or BDF meeting.

Zhang arrived in the capital on Tuesday night to attend the BDF, and it took him about an hour to travel 14 kilometres from the airport to the hotel.

 

Hasina inaugurated the BDF on Wednesday when, as a speaker at the forum, Zhang expressed his dismay at the slow traffic in the city. 

 

Finance Minister AMA Muhith was also on stage along with other guests.

 

Zhang offered ADB support to help ease traffic congestion in the capital.

 

According to a World Bank report, some 3.2 million manhour is wasted on Dhaka streets due to the traffic gridlock which is also considered as an obstacle to foreign investment.  

 

The report said during the past 10 years, commuting speed has slowed down to 7 km per hour from 21 km per hour in the capital.

 

A 2013 research report prepared by the Roads and Highways Department said the slow traffic in Dhaka accounted for Tk 120 billion a year in losses.

 

Between 1995 and 2005, streets in Dhaka City have been expanded by five percent compared with a 134 percent growth in traffic and 50 percent growth in population.

 

A few flyovers were added to the road loops in past few years to ease traffic congestion.