The traffic system on Wednesday virtually collapsed across the city as Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of ruling Awami League, observed its 69th founding anniversary on the day.
Thousands of motor vehicles, mostly buses got stranded on busy city streets for hours causing severe traffic congestion and untold sufferings to the commuters as the leaders and the workers of BCL in processions were marching towards the Dhaka University and its adjacent areas from the city’s various directions.
“I boarded on a passenger bus from Mirpur at about 1:30pm and reached Motijheel at about 6:00pm. It is terrible,” a passenger expressing grave resentment said.
Vehicular movement came to a complete halt on most roads including Bijoy Sarani, Mirpur, Matsya Bhaban, Jatiya Press Club, Nilkhet, Segun Bagicha, Farmgate, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Paltan-Gulistan, Motijheel, Moghbazar, Malibagh, Uttara and adjacent areas for most of the day while traffic system also collapsed on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue stretching from Shahbagh to Mohakhali and Banani.
When contacted the Traffic Control Room, an official said city’s most areas are experiencing serious traffic jam. ” And we have nothing to do,” he said.
A large number of people waited for hours at different bus stands and intersections for vehicles including buses, auto-rickshaws, taxis and rickshaws.
Commuters, especially different professionals and students, faced serious difficulties in making their way to their respective destinations.
Many, who did not have prior information about the BCL programme, became victims of the jams.
“I had no idea about the BCL founding anniversary and thereby got stuck in the jam,” said a passenger in Shahbagh area.
Being failed to get alternative option thousands of people had to walk down the streets to reach their destination.
A journey from Mirpur to Motijheel or Gulistan-Motijheel to Mirpur was a painful experience to all passengers and drivers of all modes of vehicles.
