Fake licence to kill

The street in front of our house is like a barren potato field. And I am very grateful for every bump, hump and hole. Cars cannot speed in our street, unlike in many other parts of Dhaka.

The traffic here is wild, crazy, dangerous. Almost 20 000 people die in traffic accidents every year in Bangladesh, 50 000 are seriously injured.
Many of the accidents happen in cities and the victims are often pedestrians.

One reason for the numerous accidents is also the large number of fake drivers.
It is estimated that over a million drivers have a fake licence. Many of them are bus drivers.
This, compared to the relatively relaxed attitude to traffic rules, is not a good combination.
The rules here are the same as in the rest of the world but they are seen more as a nuisance than a guideline. A red light does not mean that you stop if you think you can speed over the crossing.

The roads and streets are jammed almost all times of the day. The distance between Dhaka and Chittagong, the shipping capital by the coast, is less than 300 kilometers but it can take more than eight hours to drive the distance.
The authorities have tried to evict the motorized rickshaws from the highways but after large protests last week it seems that the threewheelers will not disappear soon from the highways.

Buses are both the worst and the most popular choice of transport in Dhaka. Buses are cheap but the quality of the vehicles is often of Fred Flintstone style.
During the rush hour buses are so crowded that people hang outside. The passengers inside don't have it better: most of the buses lack air condition.

For shorter trips the rickshaws are a good alternative. A tour of 10-15 minuters costs about one euro, with the blonde surcharge included.