Thousands of people suffered badly on Dhaka streets on Friday, as leaders and workers of Awami League and its front organisations blocked various roads to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her return home after attending the 71st UN General Assembly, as per reports of local dailies.
The ruling party and its allies in the 14-Party Combine, and AL affiliated bodies arranged the reception, as the PM received the “Planet 50-50 Champion” and “Agent of Change Award” by some New York based body for her contributions to women empowerment. The reception coincided with the admission tests at Dhaka University and Jagannath University and the 37th BCS Preliminary Examination.
As party men poured in on the streets in their thousands and headed for the Airport from different parts of the city, Dhaka came to a virtual standstill. Thousands of people remained stranded for several hours since around 3:00pm as vehicular movement came to a complete halt, causing immense public sufferings.
Adding to their misery, parts of several roads, including the busy Agargaon-Khamarbari road, one side of Manik Mia Avenue and Bijoy Sarani to Rangs Bhaban intersection was made off-limit to traffic. Hundreds of men, women and children were seen walking in the scorching sun towards their destinations, after remaining stuck for hours.
Commuters were frustrated that they had to endure such an ordeal and go through such a mess on the weekend. Many asked for the Prime Minister’s phone number so they could directly talk to her, seeking her intervention so they don’t have to suffer like this in future.
The tailback on Airport Road started immediately after Juma prayers when a huge number of AL men took to the streets with placards, festoons, banners and national and party flags to greet the PM, who landed at the Airport at 6:45pm and reached the Gono Bhaban around 7:30pm.
There is nothing wrong to be happy for the Prime Minister who received awards. Those who feel the need to show their joy is not be objected to. But show of public joy must not be marred by public miseries.
Those who claim to be people’s leader must not feel unconcerned about widespread public miseries.
The ruling party and its allies in the 14-Party Combine, and AL affiliated bodies arranged the reception, as the PM received the “Planet 50-50 Champion” and “Agent of Change Award” by some New York based body for her contributions to women empowerment. The reception coincided with the admission tests at Dhaka University and Jagannath University and the 37th BCS Preliminary Examination.
As party men poured in on the streets in their thousands and headed for the Airport from different parts of the city, Dhaka came to a virtual standstill. Thousands of people remained stranded for several hours since around 3:00pm as vehicular movement came to a complete halt, causing immense public sufferings.
Adding to their misery, parts of several roads, including the busy Agargaon-Khamarbari road, one side of Manik Mia Avenue and Bijoy Sarani to Rangs Bhaban intersection was made off-limit to traffic. Hundreds of men, women and children were seen walking in the scorching sun towards their destinations, after remaining stuck for hours.
Commuters were frustrated that they had to endure such an ordeal and go through such a mess on the weekend. Many asked for the Prime Minister’s phone number so they could directly talk to her, seeking her intervention so they don’t have to suffer like this in future.
The tailback on Airport Road started immediately after Juma prayers when a huge number of AL men took to the streets with placards, festoons, banners and national and party flags to greet the PM, who landed at the Airport at 6:45pm and reached the Gono Bhaban around 7:30pm.
There is nothing wrong to be happy for the Prime Minister who received awards. Those who feel the need to show their joy is not be objected to. But show of public joy must not be marred by public miseries.
Those who claim to be people’s leader must not feel unconcerned about widespread public miseries.
