Chariots of fire
Mr Saleh Ayub's regular letters on a variety of subjects are usually balanced and logical, but his latest effort on Dhaka's rickshaws (TDS, 08 Dec), is very disturbing. This is my 80th letter to the DS on the subject in 3 years, where I have analysed the traffic imbroglio from all angles and suggested solutions to keep Dhaka moving, but to no avail. If I had Mr Ayub's e-mail, I would send him uncensored copies of just 3 out of the 80, sent to DS on the dates mentioned, “Rickshaw- free Capital”-22/05/08, “Facts on Dhaka's Jams”-29/10/09 and “Dhaka sans Rickshaws”- 19/04/10. Sadly, his comments smack of the smug superiority typical of expatriate Bangladeshis who are not averse to comparing the marvels of the developed countries with their wide boulevards, efficient mass traffic systems, disciplined drivers and polite controllers with the chaos prevalent in Dhaka. None of these are expected within the next decades, not with the quality of governance and greed so pervasive here. By the by, is Mr Ayub and all supporters of gas guzzling monstrosities (GGMs) that haunt our narrow pot-holed roads, aware that the days of fuel driven vehicles are numbered? The billion plus GGMs have already been identified as the worst environmental polluters that may well end life on earth in this century. So, set your polluting, honking chariots ON fire and change your GGM for a solar-powered rickshaw while there is still time!!
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