Staff Reporter :
Many city residents had to suffer on Wednesday due to poor availability of transports following huge rush towards Suhrawardy Udyan where AL organised massive rally marking historic 7th March.
Many of the sufferers, including commuters, students and patients, waited for transports for hours. A good number of city dwellers stayed at homes fearing a traffic nightmare yesterday.
All the day, traffic snarls were observed through areas around Suhrawardy Udyan, as traffic police closed Shahbagh, Kataban, Bangla Motor, Farmgate, High Court, Mirpur and some other intersections to facilitate the Awami League supporters centering Suhrawardy Udyan.
Haphazard parking of buses and processions caused severe tailbacks along the Manik Mia Avenue, the Mirpur Road, Karwan Bazar, Bijoy Sarani, Paltan, Moghbazar and other adjacent areas.
Severe traffic congestion took place at Mirpur as all transports were diverted to Mirpur Section-1 from Mirpur Section-10 roundabout.
Many started to move on foot after a long stay for buses and other public transports.
Mahmuda Begum, 50, who arrived at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from Narayanganj to attend to her injured leg, told The New Nation that it took for her nearly four hours to get there, whereas it usually takes much less.
Azadur Rahman, a private service holder, said she took three hours to reach Farmgate from 60-Feet Road, Madhya Pirerbagh, whereas it usually takes about half-an-hour.
Arifur Rahman, a bus passenger, said it took him two hours to reach Karwan Bazar from Mohakhali.
Hundreds of people were seen waiting for buses at Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Bangla Motor and Kataban areas.
At Bangla Motor, Mohammad Milon, who was looking for a ride to Sadarghat Launch Terminal, said, “I have been waiting for a bus for nearly an hour. Though few buses came, I could not board them as I was carrying a lot of bags.”
Commuters’ suffering in this city is nothing new. They suffer almost every day when there is a major political programme at any part of the city.
