City dwellers witness increase in vehicular movement

Staff Reporter :
Residents of Dhaka witnessed an increase in vehicular movement and passengers on Thursday on the second day of a two-day nationwide blockade called by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, compared to the first day.

A few long-distance buses left Dhaka in the morning amid the blockade, but the number of passengers was quite low.

Public transport and car movement in the capital was still very low sinnce morning, as commuters were still in fear and panic due to arson attacks in the capital at night during recent blockades.

However, people were going to their workplace despite that.

Members of law enforcement agencies were on alert at the key points of the city.

However, very few long-distance buses left from Gabtali, Kalyanpur and Sayedabad terminals in the capital. Most bus company counters were closed.

While visiting Gabtali, Shyamoli, Dhanmondi, Farmgate, Banglamotor, Panthapath, Karwan Bazar, High Court and Shahbagh areas around 8am, this correspondent saw that there was no effect of road blockade in these places.

Traffic movement was like any other day in the morning. Traffic is expected to increase throughout the day.
On the first day of the 48-hour blockade enforced by the BNP and its allies, there was limited vehicular movement, especially in the morning on Wednesday.

Two buses and a minibus were torched in the capital on Wednesday night, on the first day of the blockade.
The third blockade in two weeks, after one last week, started at 6am on Wednesday and will end at 6am on Friday.

The blockade aims to mount pressure on the government to step down and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.