Traffic Chaos in Dhaka as Political Rallies Bring City to a Standstill
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, experienced significant hardships today as two major political parties held rallies within the metropolis. The events, organized by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led to the closure of major roads and resulted in widespread traffic chaos, leaving residents stranded and frustrated.
The BCL held a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan to commemorate National Mourning Day, with the Prime Minister in attendance as the chief guest. Simultaneously, the BNP organized its own procession to mark the party’s 45th founding anniversary. The rallies attracted VIPs, leaders, and activists from various parts of Dhaka and the country.
The closure of major roads due to these events put additional stress on the surrounding alternative roads and bypasses, leading to massive gridlocks and long tailbacks along several key routes. The march from Nayapaltan to Tikatuli’s Rajdhani Market, undertaken by BNP’s procession, created additional disruptions.
The traffic division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) closed 11 access points around the Suhrawardy Udyan area, exacerbating the congestion on nearby alternative routes. As a result, several major roads in the capital, including the stretch from Dhanmondi 32 to Kalabagan, New Market, Azimpur, and Jatrabari to Gulistan and Paltan, were heavily affected.
Drivers were left stranded for extended periods, while frustration mounted among commuters who resorted to walking. People had to wait for hours on the streets as they struggled to find any form of transportation to reach their destinations. Even pedestrians were inconvenienced as they navigated through crowded streets.
Aminur Rashid, a resident of Jatrabari, expressed his disappointment, saying, Headed towards Farmgate from Jatrabari, I had to walk the entire distance. Having to undergo such distress on a public holiday is disappointing. Another individual, Sirajul Islam, a student at Dhaka University, shared a similar experience while trying to reach the Green Road area for tuition.
Sohel Rana, additional deputy commissioner of the Ramna traffic zone, acknowledged the traffic congestion around the rally areas but stated that conditions on other roads remained normal. He commented, Generally, there isn’t much traffic on the roads during a holiday.
The occurrence of traffic chaos and the paralyzing effect of political rallies on the city raises concerns about the impact on the daily lives of Dhaka’s residents. It highlights the need for effective management of such events to minimize disruption and inconvenience to the public.
As the chaos continues to grip Dhaka, authorities and event organizers must collaborate to find solutions that allow for peaceful political activities while ensuring minimal disruption to the lives of the city’s inhabitants. Efforts should be made to explore alternative venues for rallies and improve traffic management strategies to prevent future occurrences of such widespread traffic chaos in the capital.
