The commuters suffered immensely on Monday as the city witnessed severe traffic congestion, with almost all roads were choked with unusual traffic because of BNP’s rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan.
The supporters and activists of BNP from different parts of the city marched towards the rally bringing out processions, halting traffic movement for hours. BNP supporters outside the city also joined the rally with hundreds of buses and minibuses creating additional pressure on the city roads.
Due to their processions, vehicles were inching towards their destination as the tailbacks prolonged to other major points. The worst traffic congestion was seen at Mirpur, Farmgate, Shahbagh, Press Club, Paltan, Gulistan, Motijheel, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur, Tejgaon, Kakrail, Rampura, Badda, and Abdullahpur areas, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) control room.
DMP officials said the major thoroughfares of the city were choked with traffic as the vehicles were forced to move to one direction at the same time due to the march of BNP supporters towards the rally venue.
The rally was scheduled to begin at 2pm. However, the leaders and activists started to join the rally from different parts of the capital and its adjoining areas from 12 noon. As a result, acute traffic congestion created on most of the city roads, said a senior DMP official.
Besides, police also stopped plying of all types of vehicles putting barricades near Ruposhi Bangla Hotel. The vehicles were asked to leave through the nearby alternative roads also intensified the gridloack.
Monowar Hossain, a bank employee, told the New Nation that he had to wait for more than two and half hours to reach Shahbagh area from Gulshan due to the traffic gridlock.
