Empty Roads: What Do They Really Mean?

If you come across empty roads in Dhaka, it can only mean one of these two things: a zombie invasion and people have shut themselves in, or, it's Eid!

Since a zombie attack has not been forecasted, it would be safe to assume that the reason why our city has started to become 'abandoned' is because of the upcoming Eid. In the next few days, Dhaka will turn into an almost deserted town. Well, that's a little bit of exaggeration, may be. But given the madness that has been the streets of Dhaka in the past couple of weeks or so, Eid indeed is set to make a drastic difference.

The pre-Eid rush and frenzy is overwhelming and takes a heavy toll on the traffic. If congestion could not make you miss or delay your iftar plans even for a day, we don't know what would; you're unbeatable. The jam-packed roads – and heavy rainfall to make matters even worse – have made Dhaka rather unbearable.

But slowly but surely, the city is starting to relax again. According to yesterday's front page report on The Daily Star, 'Holidaymakers Hit Highways', an estimated 80 lakh people are leaving the city for Eid. Now, that's a staggering number!  

No wonder the roads become so empty; even desolate, to some extent. What do the empty roads mean?

Dhaka's story is largely shaped by those who have come and settled in from other places of the country. The university student who shares an apartment with his batch-mates, the garment worker who works hard to provide for her family, the rickshaw-driver who pulls through the rain to send a little more cash back to his village, your domestic helper, your chauffeur, the businessman in pursuit of the riches... this list can go on and on. These are the people who have left the comfort of their homes – at their own cities, smaller towns, or villages – for better livelihood or education. They have made a huge contribution to what Dhaka is today.

The empty roads point out how desperately we need proper infrastructure and facilities throughout the country, so that we can curb migration towards Dhaka. Otherwise, we will simply continue to overburden one city.

Meanwhile, the Eid holidays are the perfect time for a leisurely ride. Driving in Dhaka is a nightmare for many, but the empty roads provide the rare opportunity of actually enjoying a ride. And have you realised how 'small' the city seems, given that we get to cover larger distances in smaller time periods?

“If only the roads could remain like this all throughout the year!” a common wish goes.

Well, enjoy the empty roads while they last! Eid Mubarak!

N.B. The 'Streets of Dhaka' series will again resume from 7 July, 2017.