Will the police in Smart Bangladesh control traffic by raising hands?

How many more days will the police in Smart Bangladesh control traffic by raising their hands? A very straightforward question, although there's no one to answer. In the capital city Dhaka, there are automatic traffic signals installed. Many years ago, people began adapting themselves to this system. But don’t know what happened, people started crossing the roads despite the signals, and the automatic traffic signals remained dysfunctional.

Cars are now running on elevated expressways in the country. The metro rail is running at full swing. The Bangabandhu Expressway was opened a long time ago. Modern communication infrastructure has been announced. Why hasn't modern traffic control system been implemented in the country yet? The promotion suggests that people don't want to obey traffic signals, but is that really the case? Of course not.

I am speaking about my recent experiences. I will ascend the Dhaka elevated expressway from Tejgaon and get off at three feet. As I go a little further, I see speed being monitored by speed cameras on billboards. The maximum speed limit is 60 kilometers per hour. Now, the driver is compelled to reduce the speed from 80 to 60 kilometers per hour because they know that exceeding this limit will trigger an automatic legal action. Here's another example: currently, on the highway, members of the highway police stand by with speed guns. As soon as someone crosses the dangerous speed limit, they are caught. Cameras are being installed on the Bangabandhu Expressway. Once these cameras start operating, it won't be possible to drive at speeds of 120 or 140 kilometers per hour on this road, even if one desires. If you exceed the controlled speed limit, legal action will be taken. As a result, everyone is cautious here.

But why isn't the situation changing within the city? Why aren't traffic signals becoming automatic? Just think about it: at the intersection of the capital's Karwan Bazar, the metro is passing overhead, while on the ground, two people are running in opposite directions signaling to stop the cars. Aren't these two contradictory images? On one hand, there's development, and on the other hand, there's the traditional traffic system.

According to sources from the two city corporations in Dhaka, there are 72 crucial roundabout in the city. Among them, there are 34 in the southern division, 12 in the eastern division, 11 in the northern division, and 13 in the western division, where traffic signals are installed. Although these signals were turned on November 22, 2009, they soon became ineffective after a few days. Subsequently, one after another, these signals malfunctioned. In all these intersections, modern traffic signal lights were installed under the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) project, funded by the World Bank (nearly 25 crore taka) in 2002. However, even after that, efforts to implement automatic traffic control systems in the capital did not materialize.

In the capital city, the average noise level is close to 80 decibels, particularly at the crucial intersections where standing for even 10 minutes becomes challenging. It's nearly impossible to control traffic by standing there for a continuous eight hours. We are considering our own convenience, disregarding the risks posed to some people.
The intensity of noise not only affects people's hearing but also poses a risk to their cardiovascular health. If subjected to constant loud noise pollution, it could be fatal for the general public.

According to the guidelines of the Department of Environment, the noise level in quiet areas of the capital during the daytime should be 50 decibels, and at night, it should be 40 decibels. In residential areas, the noise level should be 55 during the day and 45 at night. In mixed areas, it should be 60 during the day and 50 at night. In commercial areas, it should be 70 during the day and 60 at night. In industrial areas, it should be 75 during the day and 70 at night.

However, according to an account by a private organization, in the New Market area of the capital, the noise level during the day is 100.65 decibels, at the Press Club it is 92, in Nayapaltan it is 90, at Dainik Bangla Mor it is 71, and at Zero Point it is 70 decibels. This means that in some places, Dhaka's traffic operates amidst double the noise level set by the Department of Environment.

The Awami League has announced a vision for transforming the country from digital to Smart Bangladesh in the election this time. Now, with this announcement, if everything becomes smart, it's logical for traffic control to become smart as well. Therefore, by implementing automatic traffic control systems in Smart Bangladesh, the journey towards that goal can begin.

I'll end up with a small incident. I was walking on a street in Beijing. It was 2 o'clock at night. The road, adjacent to the hotel, was a major one. There was an overpass on that road. There was hardly anyone on the road at that late hour. Suddenly, I saw a red light flash, and a van came to a stop. As soon as the green light came on, the van resumed its journey towards its destination.

If someone says, "Look, what a good nation! Even when no one is around at night, they still follow the law," and I would like to correct them, telling them that there are cameras there. If the red light isn't obeyed, their own red light will be lit.