No more continuous honking, family rides on bikes: DMP chief

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali has announced new measures to curb reckless traffic practices in the capital, including penalties for excessive honking and a ban on family rides on motorcycles.

Speaking at a public meeting held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Kakrail on Saturday, December 21, the DMP chief highlighted these steps as part of broader efforts to improve road safety and traffic management.

Crackdown on continuous honking

Expressing frustration over drivers incessantly honking their horns, Sajjat Ali stated that such behavior is a major nuisance, especially near sensitive areas like schools, colleges, and hospitals.

“Drivers keep honking continuously, damaging others’ hearing. While there’s no specific law against it, I have already written to the government, seeking changes to enable traffic sergeants to file cases on the spot,” he said.

Ban on risky family rides

The commissioner also emphasized the risks associated with treating motorcycles as family vehicles, where riders often carry multiple children and a spouse simultaneously.

“Motorcycles are not family rides. Seeing three or four children, along with a wife, squeezed onto a bike is distressing. It is incredibly unsafe. Traffic police will strictly enforce this ban,” he warned.

Sajjat Ali added that such practices put entire families at risk, and authorities will no longer tolerate this dangerous misuse of motorcycles.

Recommendations for traffic solutions

The commissioner urged residents to consider relocating closer to their workplaces to reduce reliance on vehicles and ease traffic congestion.

“If you live near your office, you won’t need a car or motorcycle, and you can avoid traffic altogether. This will also reduce the number of vehicles on the road,” he suggested.

Highlighting Dhaka’s infrastructure limitations, Sajjat Ali pointed out that only 7% of the city is allocated to roads, far below the 25% standard required for urban areas.

The exchange of views featured participation from police officials, community leaders, and citizens. Deputy Police Commissioner of Ramna Division Md. Masud Alam delivered the welcome speech, while senior DMP officials including Md. Israel Hawlader, Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali, and Md. Masud Karim were also in attendance.