Passengers’ ordeal turned even worse with traffic gridlock hitting a new low on the eve of the weekend, thanks to the ruling party-sponsored rally celebrating what it calls ‘triumph of democracy day’.
Yesterday’s standoff came just a day after the AL’s student front organised rallies across the capital to mark its 69th founding anniversary.
AL’s Dhaka north city unit organised a rally at Russell Square north unit while the south unit organised another on Bangabandhu Avenue, contributing greatly to the public sufferings on the streets.
Other than the rallies, the ruling party men also staged enormous showdown, adding to the woes of the passengers.
Like the previous day, thousands of commuters had to remain stuck on vehicles for hours since traffic was halted on most of the strategic points and major thoroughfares.
The traffic disruption started around 11am as hundreds of activists and supporters of AL, and its affiliated wings mainly including Jubo League, Swechchhasebok League, Mohila League, Muktijoddha League, Sramik League, Krishak League and Chhatra League- set off for the two rallies that began at 3:00pm.
Besides, traffic diversion on major streets such as that stretching from Manik Mia Avenue to Farmgate and from Shishu Mela intersection to Rokeya Sarani, also created traffic chaos.
Exhausted sitting on vehicles, many were seen to start walking for their destinations.
“As traffic through the Manik Mia Avenue was closed, I had to alight from bus and walk to my office at Tejgaon spending an hour. Before that, I was stuck in gridlock for one hour and 45 minutes only to reach Asad Gate from Gabtoli,” said Ashraf Ud Dowla, a service holder.
Like Ashraf, many people were seen helpless in reaching their destinations on time due to the traffic congestion that became the worst from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
Another commuter Sajeb Hosaain, through a Facebook post, said yesterday’s gridlock was even worse that that of Wednesday.
“In a word, the entire city is blocked as the whole traffic system has collapsed for the second consecutive day. So, (I am) heading home on foot today as well,” he said.
On his Facebook timelime, AKM Hye, a job holder, wrote: “Suppose, you have had a cardiac arrest and must rush to hospital. But, you cannot do so, just because of heavy traffic jam. So, what will happen to you except a painful death?”
The status also hinted the sufferings of people willing to catch flights, or heading for urgent meetings or exams.
However, the citywide traffic started returning to normalcy after 5pm, after the rallies ended.
On Wednesday, Chhatra League’s day-long programmes took heavy toll the city life from the morning until the late afternoon.
Traffic during daytime that the day was the worst in recent past. However, the city experienced a smoother-than-expected traffic during the AL’s 20th National Council held in October. But, it was highly feared then that the event would cause serious traffic jams, but to no avail, giving Dhaka an unusual feel of tranquillity.Losses caused by tailbacksStudies reveal that these huge gridlocks cost the country billions of dollars every year.
In 2015, the government in a report said Bangladesh loses $12.56bn a year, a whopping 7% of the GDP, adding, its economic growth would rise to 13% from 6% if gridlocks were eliminated.
Another study, conducted by Stamford University, said the country had lost $3.49bn in 2010-11 fiscal year due to tailbacks.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
