Traffic congestion back in the city after shutdown ends

Traffic snarls have returned to Dhaka streets with the BNP calling off its two-month-long weekday shutdowns.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 25 March 2015, 10:00 AM
Updated : 25 March 2015, 10:00 AM

The traffic congestion was steadily building up over the past few days and peaked on Wednesday.

Roads in Gulistan, Shahbagh, Farmgate, Mohakhali, Maghbazar, and Sadarghat seemed overly crowded since morning.

The traffic situation got worse as the day progressed.

The BNP-led alliance had been enforcing a non-stop nationwide transport blockade since Jan 5 and added continuous weekday shutdowns to its agitation for a snap election.

Photo: asif mahmud ove/ bdnews24.com

Earlier, they had shortened the shutdown to 12 hours to celebrate Bangladesh’s victory against England in the Cricket World Cup, but persisted with the blockade.

For nearly three months, the BNP-backed agitation, in which petrol bombs were hurled and vehicles set on fire, caused anxiety and fear among ordinary people.

However, the popular mood began to change lately with people daring to resume normal life despite the shutdowns, causing the traffic to turn heavier.

Even the prime minister’s convoy had to slow down due to road congestion.

Until now, the BNP had been releasing statements from an undisclosed place, calling for a continuation of the shutdowns from Sunday till Wednesday, and then extending it to Thursday.

But the party release on Tuesday, signed by BNP representative Barkatullah Bulu, made no mention of any further shutdown.

It, however, indicated that the indefinite transport blockade and processions would continue.

After a long spell of shutdown, people ventured outside without hesitation.

According to ‘Rubel’, a university student, it took him more than an hour to reach Mohakhali from Shahbagh.

Photo: asif mahmud ove/ bdnews24.com

He told bdnews24.com almost all intersections including Sonargaon More, Bangla Motor, Panthapath and Farmgate were choked with traffic.

The vehicles moved at a snail’s pace.

Jagannath University correspondent of bdnews24.com said it took him two hours to reach Dhaka University from Mirpurin in the morning.

He faced heavy traffic at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, Bijoy Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, and Gulistan.

Roads leading to Sadarghat from Gulistan and from Sadarghat to Gulistan, Noya Bazar, Rai Shaheb Bazar had heavy traffic since morning, said bdnews24.com correspondent Kazi Mobarak Hossain.

Gulistan Traffic Police Sergeant Moshiur Rahman said, “The traffic seems heavier compared to that of other days.”

Even though the city is free of shutdowns, the blockade is still on.

Keeping that in mind police are on the alert like any other day, said Bongshal Police’s OC Abdul Kuddus Fakir.