By Sheba Digital Report 
The government is planning to include 300 students in traffic management efforts to restore order on the roads in collaboration with the police.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan had proposed the inclusion of students in traffic management, and this proposal is currently under review by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Khandakar Nazmul Hasan, Additional Commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed this information to The Daily Star on Monday.
He stated, “If necessary, we can provide training to the students for traffic management. They can be hired through outsourcing or paid honorariums. However, details will be clarified once the ministry finalizes the process.”
During the inauguration of the DMPI traffic unit at Rajarbagh Police Lines, Home Ministry Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced the inclusion of 300 students in the traffic division.
The adviser mentioned, “Initially, around 300 students will work in traffic management, and their numbers will be increased later. They will also be compensated for their work.”
“Students are controlling traffic on the roads and providing food, water, and umbrellas to assist the residents of the capital.”
“At the traffic signal in front of Ganabhaban, students from various schools and colleges can be seen performing traffic police duties.”
“Hamidul Islam, a 15-year-old student of Tejgaon Model High School, is not spending his time hanging out with friends or just studying at home. Instead, at his age, he is voluntarily controlling traffic at the busy traffic signal of Bijoy Sarani in the capital.
Not only Hamidul, but various professionals and individuals from different walks of life can also be seen at this bustling signal.”
“Zakir Hossain, an ambulance driver by profession, is one such individual. He works at a private hospital and has voluntarily taken on the role of traffic police after completing his patient transport duties until 1:30 PM.
On Wednesday afternoon, at the Bijoy Sarani signal, it was observed that students from schools and colleges, along with ordinary citizens, were managing traffic. Additionally, several members of the National Cadet Corps, Ansar, and the Air Force’s MODIC were also controlling vehicular movement.
Similar scenes were witnessed in various areas of the capital, including Farmgate, Kawran Bazar, Shahbag, Ganabhaban, Asadgate, Shyamoli, and Mohammadpur. Along with managing traffic, students and the general public are also engaged in cleanliness efforts.”
“At the traffic signal in front of Ganabhaban, students from various schools and colleges can be seen performing traffic police duties. Nearby, several army personnel are on guard at the unprotected Ganabhaban. The road adjacent to Chandrima Udyan is completely closed. On one side of the road, several students are recovering stolen goods from Ganabhaban over the past two days.”
“Among the students managing traffic in front of Ganabhaban, the number of female students was notably higher.
While controlling vehicular movement, the students are also stopping motorcyclists without helmets to issue warnings.
At Farmgate, they detained two motorcyclists for 10 minutes due to their lack of helmets.”
“After speaking with students at various traffic signals in Dhaka, it was learned that they are primarily working based on their local areas. At the Farmgate signal, a student named Sourav from Sher-e-Bangla Government Boys’ High School and College was managing traffic. He said, ‘I learned about this through my local Messenger group on Facebook. I started working at 11 AM today and will continue until 5 PM.’
When asked why he was putting in the effort to manage traffic, Sourav replied, ‘This country is ours. Our movement and the blood of our brothers have freed the country from autocracy. Shouldn’t we do at least this much for our country? I’m doing this small task for nation-building.’
In addition to Sourav, students from neighboring Tejgaon College and Science College were also busy handling the signal.
At the Kawran Bazar traffic signal, university students, along with members of political parties, volunteer organizations, and private sector employees, were also managing traffic.”
“Among the volunteers managing traffic were students from Asia Pacific University, Sonargaon University, volunteers from Good Work Hotel, and employees from the chartered accountancy firm Acanabin.
An official from Acanabin, Al Amin, stated, ‘We decided to work in two shifts from our office. I am working from 11 AM to 3 PM, after which one of my colleagues will take over.’
Conversations with various professionals involved in traffic management revealed that they are working purely on a voluntary basis in the absence of traffic police, without any official directives.
The residents of the capital have welcomed this initiative from the students. In several areas, ordinary people have been distributing food and water to the volunteers.
One such individual is engineer Faruk, who was seen distributing umbrellas to students managing traffic at Farmgate during the afternoon.”
“Faruk told The Daily Star, ‘I have lived in Dhaka for almost 20 years, but I have never seen the roads so orderly. This is because everyone respects the students. That respect was not there for the police. The police always resorted to corrupt practices. They are performing their duties under the scorching sun, so I have bought umbrellas for the students at several points out of my own pocket.’
Following the downfall of the Awami League government on August 5 amid mass protests, attacks, arson, and the killing of police officers occurred in Dhaka and various districts across the country.
In protest against the attacks on police stations and the killing of their colleagues, traffic police officers also went on indefinite strike. Eventually, as vehicular movement increased, students from various educational institutions voluntarily began taking charge of traffic management at empty signals starting yesterday.
In the absence of traffic police, Ansar and Village Defense Force members have been assigned to ensure security in all districts, including Dhaka. However, the presence of Ansar members on the roads today was minimal, and it is primarily students and ordinary citizens managing the busiest roads in Dhaka.”