Shafiqul Islam (Jami)
The capital has been in the grip of rains for two days due to cyclone Jawad. Due to the continuous rain, there has been a severe shortage of buses, auto-rickshaws and other public transport. This has made the passengers miserable to go to the destination. Many are forced to travel short distances by rickshaw even with extra fare.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said that moderate to heavy rains are likely in Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions due to the effect of Jawad. Local seal signal number 3 is in force in all seaports of the country.

On Monday (December 6) at noon in Motijheel, Mirpur-10, Kakrail, Paltan, Shantinagar, Shyamoli, Shahbag, Bangla Motor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Azimpur, New Market, Nilkhet and other areas of the public transport crisis was seen. Ongoing HSC candidates and their parents are also in this predicament.

About 6,000 buses and minibuses ply in the capital during normal hours. Despite the congestion of vehicles at the bus stands, buses and minibuses have been seen plying less on the road since yesterday morning due to rain. On the contrary, the passengers are not getting the desired transport even after standing on the road for quite some time.

Abul Kalam, vice-president of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association, said half the buses and minibuses of the city transport did not hit the road due to the continuous rain. Due to water logging on different roads, these transports are not able to run at certain speed limits.

The Mohakhali-Abdullahpur road was also heavily congested in the morning. The road is slippery in the rain. That is why we have instructed the drivers to drive with caution. He claimed that there are few passengers on the road today.
Harun said it took him an hour to leave Azimpur at 10 am and take a rickshaw to Naya Paltan.