Mohakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal in the capital serves as a key departure and arrival point for buses traveling to and from Bangladesh's northern and northeastern districts. On average, around 1,000 long-distance buses go through this terminal daily, carrying between 30,000 to 35,000 passengers.

Yet, despite this heavy traffic, the terminal offers almost no proper facilities for passengers. The sanitation system is practically non-existent, especially considering the high number of travelers and transport workers. There are only three toilets, even those in poor, unusable condition. The passenger rest area has been taken over by vagabonds and drug users, making it unfit for actual travelers to use.

Mizanur Rahman, a passenger heading to Kishoreganj, shared his frustration. In a disappointed tone, he said, "None of our country's transportation sectors are developed. Whether on a bus, train, or launch—passengers always face hassle. The stations are dirty, and most of the time, the food stalls or toilets are so bad that people avoid them unless necessary. Even then, the experience is terrible—especially for women and children, who suffer the most in these situations."

The Mohakhali bus terminal falls under jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Although around 1,000 buses operate through it daily, the terminal can accommodate only 400 vehicles simultaneously. On peak days like Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the number of buses can increase to 1,200. As a result, most buses have to be parked on nearby roads.

These include the roads from Mohakhali to Tejgaon's Tibet area and surrounding link roads. Because of this overflow, traffic jams can stretch to Banani.

Speaking about this issue, a bus driver on the Mohakhali–Mymensingh route said, "There just isn't enough space for all the vehicles inside the terminal. That's why we sometimes have to park outside. Still, we don't keep our buses on the roads for too long. The traffic police are always watching. There's no chance to stop anywhere or pick up and drop off passengers randomly. Sometimes there's a little traffic jam, but nothing too serious."

Garbage and waste were seen scattered all around the Mohakhali bus terminal. In addition, outsiders have taken over much of the surrounding space by setting up van carts and floating shops. Alongside frustration about poor sanitation at this busy terminal, many also complain about the lack of safe drinking water. Due to an inadequate drainage system, even a little rain causes serious inconvenience. There is no rest area available for transport workers at this terminal either.

Several transport workers expressed deep frustration and disappointment when asked about these conditions. They said passengers constantly complain about the poor sanitation system at the bus terminal. The terminal authorities have repeatedly urged the city corporation to address these problems, but no real solution has been provided.

On a visit to the site, it was observed that the ground floor of the Mohakhali terminal building has two toilets—one for women and one for men. However, both are extremely dirty and foul-smelling. Right next to them is an open bathing area, which transport workers and terminal staff use.

Speaking on the issue, an official from Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), who requested to remain anonymous, told Bonik Barta, "There is no shortage of toilets at the Mohakhali terminal. There are enough facilities. A shortage would mean people are lining up to use them—but we don't see any queues, so that's not a problem. However, I do agree that the toilets are not clean. The contractor probably cleans them once in the morning and not again throughout the day. To clean more frequently, they would need to hire more staff, which would increase costs—so maybe that's why they don't do it."

It was learned that SF Corporation holds the lease to operate the Mohakhali bus terminal. Sheikh Farid, the Dhaka Metropolitan North Sessasebok Dol president, manages the operation. Despite several attempts, he could not be reached for comment. However, a young man named Sabuj, working on behalf of the leaseholder, said, "The terminal is kept neat and clean. We've never received any complaints from passengers or anyone involved in transport services."

There is also severe disorganization at the terminal when entering and exiting. Attempts by the traffic department to control this haven't shown any real results. Traffic officials and bus owners say that drivers are forced to park on the streets due to the number of buses exceeding the terminal's capacity. In some cases, when there's a long queue to enter the terminal, long-distance drivers simply park their buses by the roadside and go off to rest.

Sirajul Islam, president of the Mohakhali Bus Terminal Road Transport Owners' Association, told Bonik Barta, "We're in a real bind with parking our buses. The terminal has space for only about 350 to 400 vehicles. But every day, more than double that number operates from here. So where are we supposed to keep all these buses? We've often told the concerned government departments—please make alternative parking arrangements for us. But nothing has been done. That's why we have no choice but to park buses on the roads. But parking outside is also a loss for us. Parts get stolen all the time—fuel, small components from the buses, you name it."

Kamrul Islam Babul, the association's general secretary, echoed the same concerns.

Transport experts say that the root of the problem lies in poor infrastructure design, which causes much of the suffering passengers face at the terminal. What's needed, they say, is structural reform and a long-term plan.

Professor Hadiuzzaman, a Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) teacher and a transport and communication specialist, told Bonik Barta, "A bus terminal isn't just a structure—it needs to be properly operated too. That means running it in ways that serve passengers' needs. But our infrastructure isn't passenger-friendly at all. It's a complete mess."

He added, "There should be clearly designated platforms at the terminal where passengers get on and off buses. But we don't have that kind of infrastructure here. If we had a platform-based design, providing civic services would be much easier. You could easily track where passengers need drinking water, toilets, or resting areas. It would make everything much more manageable."