Trucks take over 70 feet of Tejgaon's 100-foot road to choke traffic

The road from the Karwan Bazar level crossing to Saat Rasta in Dhaka's Tejgaon, which had been cleared of encroachments during late mayor Annisul Huq's tenure, has once again fallen under the control of trucks.

An iron barrier was set up to separate a designated lane for rickshaws and non-motorised vehicles on Mayor Annisul Huq Road.

However, rickshaws can no longer use it as trucks and pickups now occupy the space.

Not just the rickshaw lane, but four out of six lanes on both sides of the 100-foot-wide road have been taken over by trucks, pickups, and covered vans.

Only 30 feet of the entire road is usable for traffic, bringing back the congestion that plagued the area nearly a decade ago.

The iron barriers meant to segregate rickshaws are nearly non-existent, and trucks and covered vans are parked on the road in such a way that the elevated back part of the vehicles occupies the footpath.

As a result, rickshaws now travel in the main lane, and pedestrians have no choice but to walk on the road as well.

The situation has become hazardous, particularly in the evening, as trucks are lined up along the side roads near the Saat Rasta intersection.

This has also led to regular traffic problems for vehicles entering nearby government offices.

During a visit to the Tejgaon truck stand area on Tuesday, it was observed that trucks, pickup vans, and covered vans were parked on both sides of the road, causing severe congestion.

Russell Sarkar, a grocery shop owner from Begunbari, shared his daily experience of walking to Karwan Bazar.

He told bdnews24.com: “I have a shop in Begunbari and walk to Karwan Bazar almost every day. If I take a rickshaw, I cannot predict how long it will take.”

He added, “There is no space on the footpath because it is occupied by trucks. People sit behind the trucks on the footpath and engage in illegal activities.

“I prefer walking on the road for my safety, as I carry money for my shop’s supplies. But after dark, walking becomes impossible,” he said.

Tejgaon, home to the largest wholesale market in Dhaka, Karwan Bazar, has witnessed the influx of large vehicles such as covered vans, cargo trucks, and pickup vans for decades.

However, with no designated terminal for these vehicles, transport owners and workers have started parking their vehicles on the roads from the Karwan Bazar level crossing to the Saat Rasta intersection, Begunbari, and the surrounding areas.

Despite multiple attempts by the Dhaka North City Corporation, or DNCC, to remove these vehicles, including eviction drives and efforts to create rickshaw stands, trucks remain a dominant presence.

Traffic congestion has become an everyday challenge.

Moreover, the area around the truck stand has become notorious for illegal activities, such as drug trade and theft, making it increasingly dangerous for pedestrians and residents after dark.

When Annisul became the mayor of the DNCC in 2015, he made several attempts to clear the truck stands in Tejgaon.

These efforts led to clashes between transport workers and DNCC officials.

However, despite resistance from truck workers, Annisul successfully managed to remove the truck stands and make the roads more navigable.

In June 2018, the DNCC renamed the road from Saat Rasta to Karwan Bazar in honour of the late mayor Annisu.

However, since then, the road has once again begun to revert to its old chaotic state.

After the appointment of the new mayor Atiqul Islam multiple efforts to restore order to the area have not been successful.

In the past, then prime minister Sheikh Hasina had allocated nearly 2.02 hectares of land to build a multi-story truck terminal in Tejgaon, right in the heart of the capital.

In July 2024, the DNCC mayor Atiqul announced plans to initiate construction of the terminal.

In December 2023, the then mayor Atiqul, told bdnews24.com the DNCC had been trying for a long time to secure land from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, or BTRC, and the Ministry of Public Works.

Recently, with the prime minister’s intervention, the DNCC successfully acquired the land, he said.

However, after the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works cancelled the approval for the allocation of this land for the multi-story truck terminal in Tejgaon.

Despite this setback, Mohammad Ejaz, the newly-appointed administrator of the DNCC, remains hopeful.

He told bdnews24.com: “We will send a letter to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to request the land.

“We are confident we will get the land soon,” he said.

“Once we have the land, we can start work,” he added.

Locals and transport workers estimate that between 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles travel daily between the Karwan Bazar level crossing and Saat Rasta.

These vehicles include trucks delivering goods to the Karwan Bazar wholesale market and transport vehicles for over 30 government institutions, including the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation, or BSCIC, the Central Drug Store, Essential Drugs Company Ltd, the Survey Department, the Land Records and Survey Department, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, Bangladesh Textile University, and the Central Food Warehouse.

The area also accommodates a significant number of rickshaw and three-wheeler Laguna stands.

Truck driver Rashidul Hasan, defending the illegal occupation of the road, claims they have no other option.

He told bdnews24.com, "There are eight truck stands in Dhaka, and this is the largest. There is no space available here to park the trucks, so the owners instruct us to park on the road. We are forced to do it."

Around a year ago, the city corporation authorities conducted several eviction drives to prevent vehicle parking in this area.

However, just hours after the operations, truck owners and workers reclaimed the area.

As no eviction drive was successful, former mayor Annisul designated the area as a rickshaw stand.

After his passing, it reverted to a truck stand.

After becoming mayor, Atiqul initiated efforts to remove the truck stand, but was unable to implement any changes.

Following the change in power on Aug 5, the number of vehicles has risen, along with a shift in control of the truck stand and leadership among the truck owners and workers.

Several people using the road revealed that most of the area along both sides of the road is occupied by trucks parked in two or three rows, turning the space into a hotspot for muggers and drug users once night falls.

The environmental pollution also caused by waste from these vehicles has become a concern.

The road also hosts several government institutions.

An officer from the BSCIC told bdnews24.com: "The trucks are parked in such a way that it often takes a long time for another vehicle to enter or exit our office. The road has become a single lane, making it difficult for vehicles to manoeuvre.

“Our drivers silently tolerate this because there's no opportunity to engage with the truck drivers,” he said.

“Whatever they say goes here," he added.

Masum Shikdar, an official of Essential Drugs Company Limited, said: "The workers leave their trucks here. Even if we ask them to move, they don’t listen. And we can’t say much either, because they respond rudely."

Kofil Uddin, an employee of the Land Record and Survey Department, told bdnews24.com: "Where do we even walk? The footpath has also been occupied. The entire road is under the control of trucks—who cares? This is just how the country runs. Talking to truck drivers is nearly impossible."

On Monday night, a truck carrying fish from Khulna was parked on the road opposite the BSCIC office after unloading at Karwan Bazar.

Anas Mia, the truck driver's assistant, said: "This is the only place we have been given. There's nowhere else to park."

Employees of the Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners Association said decisions regarding where trucks will park, when they will enter, and when they will leave are made by the owners, whose offices are located right next to the truck stand.

Association President Tofazzal Hossain Mazumdar told bdnews24.com: "Around 5,000 trucks park here. We pay all the necessary taxes to the government.

“The authorities have said they will allocate a designated space for us. If they do, we will move.” he said.

He added, "We would be happy to leave. Why would we occupy the roads if we had a proper place?"

According to him, trucks were previously parked across four lanes on both sides of the road, but now they occupy only two lanes, allowing vehicles to pass through.

When asked about traffic management efforts, Tejgaon Division Deputy Police Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam said: "We maintain regular communication with truck owners and labour leaders, though we haven't held a formal meeting yet.

"We ensure that no vehicle blocks the road, and if a truck breaks down or obstructs traffic, we remove it immediately to prevent public suffering.

"Our traffic personnel are highly active in Tejgaon, especially during Ramadan,” he said.

“In the afternoons, I personally remain on duty to monitor the situation and ensure that trucks do not cause congestion."

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi and Fariha Bristy]