Traffic jams in Dhaka has become far more than a daily inconvenience for city residents. It is now one of Bangladesh’s most pressing economic, environmental, and social challenges. Every day, millions of commuters spend hours trapped in traffic, resulting in lost productivity, excessive fuel consumption, air pollution, and widespread public frustration.
Fulbaria-Gulistan Bus Terminal will be shifted to Keraniganj
Sayedabad-Jatrabari Terminal will be moved to the under-construction Kanchpur Intercity Bus Terminal
Road minister Sheikh Robiul Alam some changes would be made to the bus terminals within the next four to six months.
Dhaka’s four major intercity bus terminals collectively handle between 3,500 and 4,500 long-distance buses every day, carrying 150,000 to 200,000
In an effort to address the long-standing crisis, the government has decided to relocate Dhaka South City Corporation’s major intercity bus terminals outside the capital. Urban planners and transport experts believe the move could significantly reduce traffic pressure on some of the city’s busiest roads. However, an important question remains how much relief will the relocation actually provide
At a recent high-level meeting on traffic management and urban transport modernization, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the relocation of Dhaka’s major intercity bus terminals. Under the proposed plan, the Fulbaria-Gulistan Bus Terminal will be shifted to Keraniganj, while the Sayedabad-Jatrabari Bus Terminal will be relocated to the under-construction Kanchpur Intercity Bus Terminal.
Speaking to The Daily Observer, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam confirmed the plan. “The Sayedabad-Jatrabari Terminal will be moved to the under-construction Kanchpur Intercity Bus Terminal, where land acquisition has already been completed. Discussions regarding the relocation of the Fulbaria-Gulistan Terminal to Keraniganj are ongoing, and we will provide more details soon,” he said.
Attempts to reach Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Property Officer Md. Rezaul Karim for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam told The Daily Observer that the existing bus terminals are one of the causes of persistent traffic congestion. He said that some changes would be made to the bus terminals within the next four to six months.
Within the next two years, the Sayedabad and Jatrabari bus terminals will be relocated to Kanchpur. Land has already been allocated there for our terminal. The Fulbaria and Gulistan bus terminals are also being shifted to Keraniganj. The new terminal will be established on the opposite side of the Keraniganj jail, and land will be acquired there for the project.
According to transport sector sources, Dhaka’s four major intercity bus terminals collectively handle between 3,500 and 4,500 long-distance buses every day. These buses carry an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 passengers entering and leaving the capital daily. To access the terminals, buses must travel through some of Dhaka’s busiest roads, placing enormous pressure on the city’s transportation network.
Transport experts estimate that Sayedabad Terminal alone handles around 1,200 buses daily. The constant movement of these heavy vehicles contributes significantly to congestion in key areas such as Gulistan, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, and surrounding corridors, which serve as major gateways to the capital.
The economic impact of traffic congestion is substantial. A World Bank study found that Dhaka loses nearly five million working hours every day due to traffic jams, resulting in annual economic losses estimated at around Tk 37,000 crore. Data from the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) indicate that average vehicle speeds on many major roads have fallen to between 7 and 10 kilometers per hour, comparable to the walking speed of an average person.
Urban planning expert Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan believes relocating intercity bus terminals could help ease traffic congestion by reducing the presence of heavy vehicles within the city.
“Removing long-distance buses from the city center will lessen pressure on major roads. However, terminal relocation alone cannot solve Dhaka’s traffic crisis. Significant improvements in public transportation are equally important,” he said.
Transport specialist Professor Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman of BUET noted that most major cities around the world maintain intercity transport terminals outside urban centers.
“In cities such as Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, and Singapore, long-distance buses terminate at peripheral hubs, allowing passengers to complete their journeys using metro rail, commuter rail, or city bus networks. Dhaka could benefit greatly from adopting a similar model,” he explained.
