The drivers use no less than 100 points throughout the city as their haphazard parking space. These illegal and unplanned stands of bus, truck, human hauler, taxicab, minibus, private car, microbus, auto-rickshaw and tempo create a hazardous and chaotic situation on the city streets and also hinder smooth vehicle movement.

Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) First Vice President MA Salam raised the issue as one of the major obstacles for investment in the commercial capital at the concluding session of Chittagong Apparel, Fabric and Accessories Exposition (Cafaxpo) on Saturday.

"The road communications system in Chittagong is in so disorderly state that gives such an impression as if the entire city is either a bus stand or parking lot for trucks," Salam told the function. He also urged the authorities concerned to act in this regard.

Unwanted traffic congestion apart, the vehicles at these stands emit thick smoke and create noise pollution resulting in health hazards and various diseases.

A project taken some 20 years ago to establish a planned terminal for tank lorry, truck and inter-district bus has also been shelved. A project taken by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) about 10 years ago for construction of new roads and expansion of older ones to lessen the gridlock also faces the same fate.

The CDA, however, bulldozed some wayside illegal structures and markets at Anderkilla and Sholoshahar recently to widen the roads for better traffic.

"The CDA deserves thanks for this and we hope that they will continue such commendable moves to give us at least some solace," Shawkat Hossain, a businessman of Chittagong Shopping Complex at Sholoshahar said.

However, illegal and makeshift parking lots are being erected at key points such as Bahaddarhat, Cinema Palace, KC Dey Road, Dhaka Trunk Road, Oxygen Intersection, Mansurabad (near WAPDA colony), Kadamtali, Chittagong Port area, Laldighir-par, New Market, Station Road, Garibullah Shah Shrine, Dampara, Muradpur, GEC Intersection, Kathgar, Patenga, Pahartali, Dewanhat, Olonkar Crossing, Madarbari Strand Road, Barik Building, Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ), Port Connecting Road, Majheerghat, Kalurghat, Dhanialapara, Bayezid Bostami, Boxirhat, Asadganj and Khatunganj area.

Hundreds of trucks loaded with goods enter the city daily from other parts of the country but hardly find a space close to their destination and the drivers don't hesitate to make a halt on the busy streets. And, they often cause serious traffic jam on way to and from CEPZ, Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong Port, Customs, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Naval Base and Patenga Seabeach.