Traffic congestion plagued Dhaka on Saturday evening, as the city's main routes became jam-packed with vehicles, causing significant distress for hundreds of commuters. The situation worsened on Sunday, with heavy traffic continuing into the evening on the first working day of the week.
As office-goers struggled to make their way home, many opted to abandon their vehicles and walk to their destinations in an effort to avoid the gridlock.
By the late afternoon, the traffic snarls were particularly noticeable on major roads including Mirpur Road, Asad Gate, Dhanmondi, Khamar Bari, Farmgate, Panthapath, Kalabagan, Science Lab and Shahbagh heading towards New Market.
In Puran Dhaka, areas such as Nazimuddin Road, Alaudddin Road, Bangshal, Bakshi Bazar and Bongobazar also witnessed severe congestion, with vehicles moving at a crawl. Even a short journey was taking an unexpectedly long time due to the heavy traffic.
Businessman Kamrul Islam, traveling from Uttara via the Elevated Expressway, found himself stuck in traffic just after Khamar Bari. Though the initial smooth journey, the bus he was on became trapped on the road, forcing him to get off and continue on foot.
Speaking to a reporter near the National Parliament, Kamrul said: “I reached here quickly via the Elevated Expressway, but the bus got stuck after Khamar Bari. Since I had urgent work, I had to walk. I hope I can catch a rickshaw once the road clears.”
Another commuter, Rakibul Hasan, said, “I travel this route regularly. Today, one side of the road is closed, which is causing the traffic jam.”
Rajib Gain, Assistant Police Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Traffic Department (Dhanmondi Zone) said that the road congestion started around 4pm.
He explained that the closure of one side of the road near the National Parliament had caused a backlog, particularly affecting traffic from Shahbagh to Science Lab.
This, in turn, led to additional jams on nearby roads like Panthapath, Green Road, and in front of the Bashundhara Shopping Mall.
“We are working to normalize the traffic,” he added.