Photo : TDM
The second day of the country’s main opposition BNP’s scheduled road march programme and the ruling Awami League’s (AL) 'Peace and Development Procession' turned into a nightmare for the city dwellers, as roads in various parts of the capital city were paralysed by intolerable congestion.
The situation took a turn for the worse as leaders and activists from both parties flooded the streets, holding rallies and blocking roads at multiple points as part of their pre-scheduled programmes.
Thousands of BNP partymen participated in the march from Abdullahpur to Jatrabari, while AL leaders and activists began their procession from the Satrasta area, resulting in chaotic conditions at different key points throughout the city.
The authorities took the step of stopping vehicular movement on major roads and crossings to accommodate the political processions, leaving daily commuters stranded for hours in never-ending traffic jams. Frustrated citizens were seen sleeping in their vehicles, passing the time by playing games or surfing on their smartphones.
A traffic policeman on duty shared, "Severe traffic jams were observed across the capital, including Uttara, Kuril Biswaroad, Badda, Gulshan, Mohakhali, Satrasta, Kakrail, Motijheel, and Karwanbazar, due to the programmes of the two major political parties."
Marzia Khanom, a government employee stuck at Shahbagh crossing for over an hour, expressed her distress, stating, "It is really a very disturbing experience. I have to go to Mirpur, which is nearly 10 kilometres away, and from the looks of it, I may have to hoof it."
The traffic chaos also had severe implications for public health services. Habibul Islam, an attendant of a patient admitted to Kurmitola Hospital, lamented, "Loud noise pollution caused suffering to the patients in the hospital, while traffic gridlock prevented many from reaching here with their patients quickly."
Even public transport was severely affected, with Ajmeri Glory bus driver Ripon Miah revealing, "Our transport normally makes a round trip from Gazipur’s Chandina to Dhaka’s Sadarghat twice a day, but with the traffic jam, that seems unreal."
In response to the ongoing situation, DMP has urged political parties to refrain from holding such programmes on working days to avoid inflicting massive public suffering.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) also advised political parties to be cautious about noise pollution during their events.
This correspondent went to the Gulshan link road at Mohakhali and found both parties using loudspeakers, drums, and high-pitched music, causing serious noise pollution at Mohakhali, where several hospitals are located.
TDM/SD
