Severe traffic congestion was witnessed across major roads in Dhaka on Sunday, the fourth day of Ramadan and the first working day of the week, causing immense suffering for commuters heading home before iftar.
Following office hours, heavy gridlock was reported in key areas including Gulistan, GPO, Motijheel, Matsya Bhaban, Shahbagh, Kakrail and Paltan, where long queues of vehicles stretched across intersections.
The situation was particularly dire in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Farmgate and Jatrabari. Commuters said it took between 40 minutes to an hour to travel just one kilometre in some areas. Many were forced to break their fast on the road due to the delays.
Rush after office hours
The government has set a revised schedule for public offices, courts and banks during Ramadan, with official hours running from 9am to 3:30pm.
As offices closed for the day, the number of vehicles on the streets increased sharply. A visit to Shahbagh, Bangla Motor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Asad Gate and Shyamoli areas on Sunday afternoon showed traffic volume rising significantly after 3pm. In many places, vehicles moved at a snail’s pace, while in others long tailbacks formed.
Adnan Habib, who was waiting for a bus in the Karwan Bazar area, said he had been standing for 30 minutes without finding one.
“There is heavy congestion today. Even when buses arrive, they are overcrowded. People are hanging from the doors. In this situation, it will be difficult to reach home before iftar,” he said.
Another passenger standing on a Mirpur Super Link bus said waiting for a less crowded vehicle would mean reaching home after iftar. “That’s why I took the risk and boarded by holding onto the gate,” he said.
Traffic police officials said pressure on the roads naturally increases during office closing hours, and congestion in the afternoon tends to be worse during Ramadan compared to other times of the year.
Speaking to Dhaka Deputy Commissioner (Traffic–Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police M Tanvir Ahmed said: “Today was the first working day under regular office hours since the start of Ramadan, so traffic congestion increased naturally. In addition, several heavily loaded vehicles broke down at different points in Dhaka. Due to their heavy load, we could not remove them immediately. Altogether, these factors contributed to the congestion,”
Commuters alleged that many buses head back to garages one to one-and-a-half hours before iftar, reducing the number of vehicles on the streets. The remaining buses often carry excessive passengers, worsening the situation.
Roadside iftar stalls occupying portions of streets were also cited as a contributing factor, narrowing carriageways and intensifying congestion.
Meanwhile, ride-sharing services and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were reportedly charging higher fares amid the gridlock. Passengers complained that fares for short distances had doubled or even tripled ahead of iftar.
With severe congestion and a shortage of public transport becoming a recurring problem every Ramadan, commuters said stricter monitoring is needed to ensure adequate bus services, prevent overcharging and better coordinate office schedules.
Otherwise, they fear, the daily ordeal of battling traffic before iftar will remain an unavoidable part of Ramadan in the capital.