Staff Reporter :
The capital on Thursday witnessed massive gridlocks due to the government’s celebration of the country’s graduation to a developing country from a least developed one.
Thousands of commuters, especially the students and the patients, 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 11:00am as hundreds of government officials from different ministries and semi-government offices started their processions to take part in the grand rally at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
All the day, traffic snarls were observed in the 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, Mirpur Road, Karwan Bazar, Bijoy Sarani, Paltan, Moghbazar and other adjacent areas.
Many started to move on foot after a long stay for buses and other public transports.
Some relatives of patients at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) complained about the delay in taking patients to the hospital.
Some ambulances were also seen stuck up in traffic jam.
Masuma Begum, 40, who came to DMCH from Narayanganj due to a leg injury, said it took her nearly three hours to get there. Usually, it takes much less time, she said.
An auto-rickshaw driver, who was carrying a patient
to DMCH, said he was stuck on the road for two hours because of the traffic congestion.
Priyam Roy, an employee of a private company, was going to the High Court from Farmgate. “It took me two hours to reach there,” he said while describing his ordeal.
“First, it took 30 minutes to cross Karwan Bazar intersection while the bus was diverted towards Moghbazar in Bangla Motor as police blocked the road towards Shahbagh.”
“From Moghbazar, I had to walk to the High Court as there was no other option available,” he said. “The sufferings didn’t stop there. While returning, I had to walk all the way to Farmgate, which also took around two hours.”
Parvej Ahmed, a lawyer at Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) Court, said he found no bus near Roy Saheb Bazar intersection around 2:00pm. He was planning to go to Farmgate.
“I had to walk all the way. It was also difficult to walk as the roads were packed with people heading for the rally,” he said. It took him two and a half hours to reach his destination.
“It was a hectic day,” he said.
The situation got worse in the evening when people left offices for home.
Many, including women, children and elderly persons, suffered due to an inadequate number of public transports while others had to spend hours in the gridlocks on some key roads.
The capital on Thursday witnessed massive gridlocks due to the government’s celebration of the country’s graduation to a developing country from a least developed one.
Thousands of commuters, especially the students and the patients, 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 11:00am as hundreds of government officials from different ministries and semi-government offices started their processions to take part in the grand rally at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
All the day, traffic snarls were observed in the 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, Mirpur Road, Karwan Bazar, Bijoy Sarani, Paltan, Moghbazar and other adjacent areas.
Many started to move on foot after a long stay for buses and other public transports.
Some relatives of patients at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) complained about the delay in taking patients to the hospital.
Some ambulances were also seen stuck up in traffic jam.
Masuma Begum, 40, who came to DMCH from Narayanganj due to a leg injury, said it took her nearly three hours to get there. Usually, it takes much less time, she said.
An auto-rickshaw driver, who was carrying a patient
to DMCH, said he was stuck on the road for two hours because of the traffic congestion.
Priyam Roy, an employee of a private company, was going to the High Court from Farmgate. “It took me two hours to reach there,” he said while describing his ordeal.
“First, it took 30 minutes to cross Karwan Bazar intersection while the bus was diverted towards Moghbazar in Bangla Motor as police blocked the road towards Shahbagh.”
“From Moghbazar, I had to walk to the High Court as there was no other option available,” he said. “The sufferings didn’t stop there. While returning, I had to walk all the way to Farmgate, which also took around two hours.”
Parvej Ahmed, a lawyer at Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) Court, said he found no bus near Roy Saheb Bazar intersection around 2:00pm. He was planning to go to Farmgate.
“I had to walk all the way. It was also difficult to walk as the roads were packed with people heading for the rally,” he said. It took him two and a half hours to reach his destination.
“It was a hectic day,” he said.
The situation got worse in the evening when people left offices for home.
Many, including women, children and elderly persons, suffered due to an inadequate number of public transports while others had to spend hours in the gridlocks on some key roads.
