Awami League’s rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday has thrown traffic haywire as party supporters stranded Dhaka commuters in gridlocks for hours together.
The ruling party organised a reception for party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her contributions in the government’s achievements, including the launch of Bangabandhu-1 satellite, Bangladesh’s graduation to a developing nation from a least developed one.
Commute in the city plunged into chaos as police closed several streets to traffic for the event at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
Awami League supporters poured out on the streets with processions and at the main venue choking all the roads in Dhaka.
Buses, minibuses and cars crawled through the streets connecting Matsya Bhaban to Shahbagh, Paltan, and Kakrail from midday until evening. Some vehicles tried taking the wrong lane of the road to beat the jam.
The situation took a toll on traffic sergeants as they were seen giving up helplessly at some points.
Leaders and activists of the Awami League, who also came from outside Dhaka, first gathered on the surrounding roads and then started marching towards the main venue. These small processions also stopped at some points.
Vehicles were stuck in heavy traffic on roads in Paltan, along the National Press Club, the Supreme Court area, Matsya Bhaban, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the road along the Anti-Corruption Commission in Kakrail and at the Zero Point, among many other locations.
Transfixed commuters were forced to walk to their destinations after traffic came to a grinding halt.
Morshed Ali, who works for a private firm, had to walk from Segunbagicha to Panthapath.
“I had gone to Segunbagicha around 11am for some official matter. Around 2pm, I started for my office at Panthapath. I had taken a rickshaw, but had to leave it as the road was completely packed. I walked to office and on my way found severe traffic on the streets,” he told Bangla Tribune.
Raihan, who works as a driver of a bus, was seen sitting on the footpath in Panthapath. “I have been stuck here for an hour. The passengers have left the bus.”
Public transports were also scarce on Friday. A transport owners’ association leader said that the ruling party has rented most of the buses for carrying supporters to the rally.
“That’s why the buses are not carrying passengers,” he told Bangla Tribune asking not to be named.