We strongly feel that the situation can only worsen without any intervention. Effective and innovative ways must be found to mitigate the suffering of the people. It is evident that mere regulatory measures by the administration alone cannot achieve any tangible success in arresting the deteriorating state of traffic. If we are to curb the city's traffic jam to a rational level, besides undertaking long-term measures, there will have to be coordinated afforts undertaken by the political parties and the various concerned agencies of the government right now.

The entire political leadership and the political parties need once for all to agree that no rallies and marches be staged in a way that blocked the entire streets. Processions should be taken out alongside shoulders of the streets rather than occupying the whole road spaces. Rallies and processions better not be a whole day affair; there should be fixed hours for them. What is equally, if not more important is that these should be held on designated locations with adequate notice given to the media. Nowhere in the world traffic is allowed to be disrupted for hours together with such frequency as is done in Bangladesh.

Public rallies are for mobilising public opinion or securing people's support for a cause. That being the case, it defies understanding as to how public support can be obtained by increasing public inconvenience!

Our suggestion is representatives from political parties, civil society, government agencies and the DCC put their heads together to devise ways and means to avoid life-disrupting traffic congestion on account of political and other programmes.