Severe traffic congestion grips capital amid political rallies

Although traffic jams are a daily ordeal for commuters in the capital, but Wednesday's gridlock was exceptionally severe. 

According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the chaos began from rallies held by two major political parties, bringing the city's main roads to a standstill.

The congestion started in the Paltan and Shahbagh areas in the morning, escalating severely by 1:00 pm.

Long queues of vehicles clogged key intersections, including Press Club, Zero Point, Dainik Bangla, Bijoynagar, Nightingale, and Motijheel, starting around 10:00am.

Being unable to endure the delays, frustrated commuters got down their vehicles to walk to their destinations.

The situation worsened with the sudden gathering of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists in Shahbagh following the release of their central leader Azharul Islam. 

By 8:30 am, their presence at Shahbagh intersection and areas near Dhaka University triggered massive traffic disruptions, which quickly spread to Paltan and Ramna. 

A traffic police officer on duty said that the abrupt occupation of Shahbagh intersection halted traffic on the main roads.

DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Sarwar reported at 1:45 pm that a youth rally by three BNP’s affiliated bodies drew lakhs of supporters, with buses ferrying activists from Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Cumilla, and within the city. 

Except for parts of Mirpur and Uttara, the entire city was paralysed by traffic. The initial gridlock in Shahbagh, sparked by the Jamaat gathering, was compounded by the BNP rally, intensifying the crisis, he added.

In Karwan Bazar, vehicles lined the elevated expressway as far as the eye could see, prompting some commuters to walk along the structure. 

Md Sarwar assured that DMP officials, from deputy commissioners to inspectors, were deployed across the city to manage the situation. Every effort is underway to restore normal traffic flow, he added.