Traffic agony in Dhaka

Riddled with traffic congestion since morning, the agonising road situation in Dhaka has worsened as the day wore on, thanks to a political rally in the capital.

The ruling Awami League has organised the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan marking the homecoming of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The traffic congestion was created as thousands of leaders, activists and supporters of the party thronging to the meeting venue from different parts of the capital and its adjoining areas carrying placards, festoons and banners portrait with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Many home goers were seen standing still at different points of Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue and on other roads across the capital due to shortage of passenger buses on the streets.

“After seeing this hopeless condition of the streets, I decided to walk. It took me almost one and a half hours to walk from Motijheel to Farmgate, but I still think I saved a lot of time,” said Abir, while going home from his office.

Meanwhile, roads in Uttara, Khilkhet, Mohakhali, Farmgate, Badda, Rampura, Mirpur and other areas faced heavy traffic congestion since morning.

“People are just standing on the sides of the roads, waiting to catch a vehicle so the sidewalks were congested like the roads,” said Asma, a pedestrian, waiting on the Panthapath intersection, adding that she also opted to walk instead of waiting on the roads.

An official of Dhaka north division traffic police seeking anonymity told The Daily Star that apart from the usual morning rush, the traffic condition was different today because of the movement of several VVIP persons.