Braving scorching heat in the line of duty

It was around 2:30pm on Tuesday.

Amid the boiling heat, dozens of vehicles were lined up at two sides of the Bijoy Sarani signal in the capital, patiently waiting for their turn to go.

Among the passengers stopped at the signal, Rubel Hasan, 32, was waiting inside a CNG-run three-wheeler, sweating profusely as a blistering heat wave has been sweeping over the country. "How can we possibly survive in this city with such chaotic traffic?" a frustrated Rubel said.

Just a few yards away, stood Alamgir, a traffic constable in his mid-40s, to control the flow of vehicles under the sizzling sun. A few minutes later, Alamgir let the vehicles go with his handheld signal and the vehicles, including the one Rubel was in, started moving again.

Rubel might have found some relief after crossing the signal. However, for Alamgir, it is the road where he has to stand for almost the entirety of his eight-hour-long shift, no matter how high the temperature is out on the street.

"What else can we do? It is our daily duty but sometimes it is unbearable to stand for a long time under the sun. Yet we cannot leave the road unauthorised," Md Alamgir told The Daily Star.

The capital is enduring a prolonged heat wave this summer, with midday outdoor temperatures reaching 37 degree Celsius at times. Despite the intense heat, several hundred traffic sergeants like Alamgir work hard to maintain traffic order on major streets wearing synthetic uniforms.

There are around 4,000 traffic personnel working under the traffic division in Dhaka to maintain vehicular movement. The scorching heat is taking a heavy toll on them as they are exposed to the constant heat for a long time.

Md Mushfiq, 41, a constable stationed at the Agargaon intersection, said, "I already have knee problems from standing for extended periods while on duty. Now, the heatwave exacerbates these issues, leaving me feeling fatigued quickly."

"We are trying to drink as much water as possible. Still, the heat makes us feel drained out," he said.

Sergeant Asaduzzaman Jewel at the Farmgate Police box area said many of his colleagues fell ill while on duty.

"We have been trying to overcome the situation but the heat is unavoidable due to the nature of our duty. We have been supplying water and saline to our colleagues to combat the heat," he added.

While visiting the Karwan Bazar intersection, Sergeant Md Shimul told this newspaper that the situation is always tough for traffic personnel as they have to work in a chaotic environment.

With the ongoing sweltering heat, it has become physically torturous for many of them, he added.

The authorities should take steps like increasing the number of traffic personnel or reducing the duty hours to protect them from the heat waves during the season, said another traffic constable stationed at the Farmgate Police box area, seeking anonymity.

Abu Raihan Mohammad Saleh, joint commissioner (traffic north) of DMP, said traffic personnel have been advised to take necessary precautions, including drinking adequate amounts of water and using an umbrella while performing their duties.

"We have also been shifting their duties, ensuring that they do not have to work for long, continuous shifts," he added.