Unprecedented traffic condition has gripped the capital as numerous processions by the ruling Awami League (AL) ticket seekers were seen swarming towards the party chief’s Dhanmondi offices from across the country.
The ruling party leaders vying for the party ticket resorted to stage a showdown in an apparent effort to demonstrate the extent of their support base, causing severe sufferings to the Dhaka residents.
Supporters, on their way to the Awami League chief’s office were seen in processions of motorbikes, pick-ups and buses since Friday (Nov 9), when the AL started their nomination sales.
On Nov 11, it was seen that the ruling party supporters are not bothering to follow any traffic signals. Their procession occupied streets blocking vehicle movement. Each procession is coupled with a group of bikers, most of who were driving without helmets.
The traffic congestion were worst at the capital’s Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Science Lab, Tejgaon and Bijoy Soroni areas where vehicles were seen stuck for hours.
Police in charge with maintaining traffic appeared to be reluctant to take any steps while the people on the roads were clearly frustrated.
“Not a single vehicle is moving. I’m stuck here for about an hour. My passenger opted to go on foot and I’m not being able to even turn around,” Rickshaw puller Rohis Mia said at the Dhanmondi 27 intersections on the Sat Masjid Road,
“Election is like Eid,” said a supporter, Jamal Hossain before claiming that people have accepted what he termed as ‘little trouble’.
DMP South Traffic Department Dhanmondi Zone Assistant Commissioner Akram Hasan said that it’s rather difficult to make thousands of people follow traffic rules.
“Thousands of leaders and supporters have taken out processions. People are regularly coming with bike processions to buy the nomination forms. Whom do we stop?” he said
This must be controlled by the political leaders who are bringing along this crowd in the first place, he said before adding, “It’s not possible for us alone.”
DMP Ramna Traffic Zone ADC Mehedi Hasan told Bangla Tribune, “It has been difficult to maintain traffic for the past few days.”
Another senior traffic police official said that leaders and activists are coming to Dhanmondi from all directions.
“It’s not that easy to control them. We can tell them, request them but if they don’t cooperate we will have to go hard-line which poses a risk of fuelling further disorder.
“We are trying to keep it under tolerable level to the extent possible. But the leaders, who are coming to buy the nomination forms, must cooperate,” he said on condition of anonymity.
