In anticipation of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations scheduled to commence on 21 April, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has released a comprehensive set of traffic directives. These measures are designed to maintain an orderly flow of vehicles across the capital and ensure that candidates can reach their respective examination centres without being hindered by the city’s notorious congestion.
The official public notice, signed by the Acting Commissioner of the DMP, Md. Sarwar, was issued on Saturday, 18 April. It underscores the necessity of public cooperation to facilitate the academic pursuits of thousands of students during this high-stakes examination period.
Strategic Traffic Management Plan
The upcoming examinations will be conducted across 127 centres within the Dhaka metropolitan area. Given the concentration of students and guardians, the DMP has urged commuters and vehicle operators to strictly adhere to specific protocols to avoid creating a “bottleneck” effect near educational institutions.
The primary objective of these guidelines is to minimise unnecessary traffic volume and eliminate illegal parking in proximity to the venues. Law enforcement has warned that any violation of these directives will result in stringent legal penalties, including the towing of vehicles and the issuance of hefty fines.
Summary of DMP Traffic Directives
| Instruction Category | Specific Guidelines for Commuters and Guardians |
| Departure Time | Candidates are urged to depart for centres with significant lead time. |
| Drop-off Protocol | Private vehicles must drop students at less busy spots away from gates. |
| Parking Restrictions | Absolute ban on parking on roads adjacent to examination halls. |
| Pedestrian Movement | Students and guardians should walk the final distance to the centre. |
| Emergency Buffer | General public should avoid centre-adjacent roads 2.5 hours before starts. |
| Exclusion Zone | Gathering within 200 yards of the centre is strictly prohibited. |
Guidelines for Candidates and Guardians
The DMP has highlighted that the presence of large crowds of guardians at the school gates is one of the leading causes of localised gridlock. Consequently, parents have been specifically requested to refrain from congregating on the roads surrounding the centres once the exams begin.
Furthermore, students using private transport are advised to disembark at a reasonable distance from the main entrance and walk the remainder of the way. This “drop-and-walk” policy is intended to prevent the accumulation of stationary vehicles that frequently paralyses arterial roads during the morning rush.
Public Safety and Legal Enforcement
To maintain the sanctity of the examination environment and ensure security, the DMP has enforced a standing order prohibiting the presence of unauthorised persons within a 200-yard radius of any centre. This exclusion zone will be monitored by both uniformed and plainclothes officers.
“We are requesting all city residents to avoid roads adjacent to examination centres unless it is an absolute emergency,” the notice stated. “By reducing the volume of general traffic at least two and a half hours before the start of the exams, we can provide our students with the stress-free commute they deserve.”
The Acting Commissioner emphasised that traffic sergeants have been briefed to show zero tolerance toward obstructive parking. The DMP has also coordinated with various transport owners’ associations to ensure that public buses do not linger at stops near the venues. With these measures in place, the authorities hope to successfully navigate the logistical challenge of hosting examinations in a city as densely populated as Dhaka.
