Awami League rally on Mar 7 brings chaos to some Dhaka roads

The ruling Awami League’s rally at Suhrawardy Udyan has left Dhaka commuters in the lurch.

Many suffered due to inadequate public transports on Wednesday, while others spent hours in the gridlock on some key roads.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke at the Suhrawardy Udyan rally marking the historic Mar 7 speech by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971.

Segunbagicha, Bijoynagar and Kakrail saw a heavy traffic buildup as roads leading to the venue were blocked.

Haphazard parking by buses carrying activists and processions added to commuters’ woes.

Many started heading to destinations on foot after a long wait for buses and other public transports.

Hundreds of activists from all across the capital and suburbs headed for the venue in the early hours of the day while the rally started at 2pm.

Around 11am, police blocked all roads connecting Ruposhi Bangla, Katabon Market, Nilkhet, Chankharpul, Matsya Bhaban intersection and GPO to the venue.

As a result, the other routes saw intense traffic congestion.

Police were found trying to ease the situation by changing courses of traffic heading to Shahbagh from Bangla Motor and Karwan Bazar.

bdnews24.com correspondent Kazi Sajidul Haque said it took him more than two hours to reach Motijheel from Mohammadpur in the afternoon.

Roads from Bijoy Sarani to Karwan Bazar were packed with traffic, so was the FDC area that is generally used to reach Moghbazar.

Traffic was disrupted on the roads connecting Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate and Khamarbari.

Arifur Rahman, a bus passenger, said it took him two hours to reach Karwan Bazar from Mohakhali.

Vehicles slowed to a crawl on the Bangla Motor-Moghbazar-Kakrail route due to heavy traffic.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has regretted the inconveniences caused by the rally to Dhaka commuters.