In the chaos of Dhaka’s traffic, with buses, CNGs and motorbikes speeding past from every direction, a few pedestrians step into the road, raise a hand and cross. Surprisingly, the traffic halts, even if only for a moment. This improvised method, locally dubbed the “Hand Man” technique, reflects not courage but the failure of the city’s traffic system.
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According to a 2017 study by Transportation Research International Documentation (TRID), only 30 per cent of intersections in Dhaka had zebra crossings. Most of which are so faded that they are barely visible. While 61-65 per cent of intersections were equipped with traffic lights, many remain dysfunctional.
The result has been catastrophic. In 2022 alone, 9,951 people were killed in road accidents across Bangladesh, with more than 12,000 injured. The death toll in 2023 remained alarmingly high at around 8,000, most of them pedestrians.
Despite the presence of foot overbridges, many commuters refuse to use them. “This overbridge has too many turns,” explained a young pedestrian. “Not everyone can manage it. If it was a straight route, people would use it.”
Others point to habit and convenience. “People have become lazy. To save a few minutes, they take risks,” said a middle-aged man. A security guard, who watches the crossings daily, added, “Small accidents happen almost every day. Even when warned, people don’t listen.”
For many, the calculation is simple. Crossing a road by the rules can take 10-15 minutes, while stopping traffic with a raised hand takes less than a minute. Convenience outweighs caution.
Traffic police acknowledge the problem. “When cars have the green signal, pedestrians stop them with their hand instead,” said Sufian Ahmed, Joint Commissioner of North DMP’s Traffic Division. “Public motivation is essential. In developed countries, pedestrians wait for the signal. Here, awareness campaigns, school curriculum and government initiatives are needed. Laws alone cannot manage thousands.”
The endurance of the ‘Hand Man’ reveals a hard reality. Without better systems and real motivation, dangerous shortcuts will thrive and Dhaka’s chaos will only deepen.
