Rallies, demos bring Dhaka to a standstill
Commuters, especially children, elderly persons and patients, suffered in gridlocks amid intense heat as political programmes caused massive traffic congestion in the capital and its exit points yesterday.
While Dhaka city north Awami League's "Peace and Development Conference '' at Gabtoli was scheduled to start at 3:00pm, processions from different wards of DNCC began as early as 12:00pm, blocking the entire bus terminal.
Around 4:00pm, a long queue of stranded vehicles heading towards Dhaka reached as far as Hemayetpur. Inside the city, vehicles on Mirpur road and several others stood still till 4:30pm.
Similarly, BNP staged a demonstration in front of its Naya Paltan office, demanding unconditional release of Khaleda Zia and her proper treatment abroad.
Their rallies and gatherings blocked roads in Motijheel, Gulistan and Secretariat areas. Hundreds of vehicles were seen standing still for hours in these completely gridlocked roads.
Besides, a fire at SA Paribahan office in Kakrail and demonstration of RMG workers at Shyamoli, blocking the Mirpur Road, further intensified the crisis.
Sharmin Islam, who was out shopping with her child, said, "I waited in an autorickshaw for more than an hour. Then, I left it and walked for an hour and took another CNG. After moving slowly for a couple of minutes, I was again stuck in a huge tailback."
"All vehicles were so crammed on the road that I could not even move out from the CNG. My son has already become very sick."
DU student Rubayet Islam said, "It will take at least three hours to reach my home. Tomorrow is my exam and when I reach home, I'll be too tired to prepare for it. Why should we suffer for political interest of few people?"
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