Traffic jams gripped capital

The students have blocked the roads at Science Laboratory intersection, Shahbagh intersection, Nilkhet intersection, Intercontinental Hotel intersection and Chankharpool demanding cancellation of quota in government jobs and reinstatement of 2018 circular. 

Consequently, hundreds of thousands of vehicles coming from all around to these important intersections of the capital are stuck for hours. 

Severe traffic jams have been created across the capital, leaving passengers of private and public transports immense sufferings.

From 1:40pm on Sunday, students blocked these important intersections of the capital demanding cancellation of quota in government jobs and reinstatement of 2018 circular.

The entire area, including New Market, Nilkhet and Science Lab, has come to a standstill due to the traffic jam created due to the blockade. 

Severe traffic jam has been created on the road towards Science Lab from Nilkhet, road towards Science Lab from Shahbagh, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur towards Science Lab. Long queues of vehicles were seen on all the roads.

A woman named Kalpana Akter was returning home by a private car with her HSC exam candidate daughter. She said, “This traffic gridlock has spread to Dhanmondi. Common people are suffering a lot. I have been sitting on the street since 2pm, now it is 3:30pm.”

A bus driver of Moumita Paribahan said, “The road was closed when I reached Science Lab. I am standing here for almost an hour. I don't know when I will leave the place.”

Nabokumar Bishwas, assistant commissioner (traffic) of Dhammondi zone of DMP, said, “The entire road has been closed due to the movement of students in the areas of Kalabagan Science Lab, Dhanmondi, Nilkhet. No vehicle can move forward. However, the traffic from Dhanmondi to Gabtali road is normal.”

The driver of a bus going to Gazipur via Farmgate said, “I am standing for two hours. Row of cars is seen behind. There is no chance to turn around. Being tired of the traffic, many are getting off the bus and walking.”

DMP's Karwan Bazar Zone Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Snehashish Kumar Das said that due to the anti-quota movement, no vehicle is able to move from Karwan Bazar to Shahbagh. As a result, the traffic jam reached to Bijoy Sarani from Farmgate-Tejgaon. As all the offices are open today in the first day of the week, the traffic pressure on the roads is also high.

Meanwhile, the on-duty police officials declined to comment on what the solution to the students' movement will be or when the traffic jam will come to an end.