Traffic chaos as pol rallies, exams overlap in city
Staff Reporter :
Residents of the capital faced severe disruption on Sunday as overlapping political rallies, cultural programmes, and ongoing public examinations caused gridlock across key thoroughfares in Dhaka.
From early morning, thousands of commuters, office workers, students, and public exam candidates found themselves stranded in prolonged traffic jams, with major intersections such as Shahbagh, Central Shaheed Minar, Suhrawardy Udyan, Katabon, Nilkhet, and Farmgate among the hardest hit.
Public transport systems were overwhelmed. Buses were overcrowded, commuters scrambled for space at bus stops, and ride-sharing fares surged sharply, according to city residents.
Several major events contributed to the congestion. The BNP-affiliated Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged a large rally at Shahbagh between 2:00pm and 6:00pm, marking the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising.
Simultaneously, the National Citizen Party (NCP) held a public gathering at Central Shaheed Minar from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, demanding formal recognition of the “July Declaration and Charter.”
Additionally, the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed cultural group Saimum Shilpigoshthi has been hosting a multi-day programme titled ‘July Awakening’ at Suhrawardy Udyan since 1 August. These overlapping events drew large crowds into central Dhaka, severely straining traffic capacity.
Traffic congestion began as early as 8:30am-hours before the scheduled start of the rallies.
Many exam candidates, particularly those attending HSC and BCS tests, struggled to reach their centres on time, adding to public frustration.
Tariqul Alam Sumon, traffic inspector for the Shahbagh zone, expressed concern over unauthorised arrangements at key intersections. “A large stage was erected at the Shahbagh north signal crossing without consulting traffic authorities.
By 6:00am, I observed traffic disruptions in all directions,” he said, suggesting that the event could have been relocated to the south signal near Dhaka University to minimise impact.
With vehicles at a near standstill, many commuters opted to walk to their destinations. CNG auto-rickshaw drivers reported journeys taking two to three times longer than usual.
“It took me 35 minutes to travel from Technical to Shyamoli-a trip that normally takes 10 minutes,” said Hasinur, a CNG driver. “The roads are choked, and both drivers and passengers are frustrated.”
Ahmed Hossain, a commuter from Farmgate, reported taking nearly an hour to reach Shahbagh. “The rallies might start in the afternoon, but the city came to a halt well before that,” he said.
Others had mixed experiences. Asma Begum, who travelled from Shyamoli to Banglamotor, noted: “Traffic was very heavy at Banglamotor, but in other areas, it was moving-albeit slowly.”
Despite widespread disruption, some traffic officials insisted conditions remained manageable. Mofizul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of the Lalbagh Traffic Division, said, “Vehicular movement in my area is still normal.”
Assistant Deputy Commissioner Shamima Sultana of the Tejgaon Division similarly described the route from Banglamotor to Shahbagh as “a bit slow, but normal overall.”
However, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) had issued a public advisory a day earlier, warning of potential delays in and around Shahbagh, Suhrawardy Udyan, and Shaheed Minar. Signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjad Ali, the notice urged the public to avoid the rally zones and use alternative routes throughout the day.
By midday, traffic conditions worsened significantly. Long queues of stationary buses and cars stretched across key roads, prompting many commuters to abandon vehicles and proceed on foot.
“I left Karaniganj early in the morning to reach Kallyanpur, but it’s already 12:30pm and I haven’t passed Shahbagh,” said Jalim Mia, visibly frustrated. “Why must roads be blocked for political events on working days?”
In some areas, student activists arriving from outside Dhaka parked their vehicles along narrow roads near rally venues such as Paltan, Mohakhali, and Matsya Bhaban, further compounding the congestion.
While officials in certain zones downplayed the scale of the disruption, the experience of stranded commuters painted a different picture – one of inadequate coordination, poor planning, and the growing need to regulate the use of public spaces for large-scale events.