Demonstrators from various backgrounds bring Dhaka traffic to a standstill on Sunday. The protest, by village police among others, caused major disruption in Kakrail area. — FE Photo by Asad-Uz-Zaman Dhaka city witnessed nagging traffic congestion and commuters faced immense suffering as a number of organisations held rallies and formed human chains blocking important roads and intersections on Sunday to press home their various demands.
Besides, closure of metro rail service and full-fledged reopening of the educational institutions have led to increased pressure on the road communication in the capital city.
Different professional bodies, students and members of at least 15 organisations formed human chains or blocked roads in important areas including Shahbagh, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Kakrail, Nilkhet and Science Lab.
The staffers of a government project 'Tottho Apa' (sisters providing information) formed a human chain blocking the road in front of the State Guest House Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser to the Interim Government.
They staged demonstration demanding that the second phase of the project as well as manpower be included into the government's revenue sector.
The neighbouring roads near Kakrail Mosque and Hotel Intercontinental were completely blocked by the law enforcing agencies to ensure security. The roads were kept closed until 5.00pm.
A group of dismissed members of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) took to the streets before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building at around 11.0 am.
An erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) member told the newsmen that they were not involved in any incident of rebellion.
Even they were denied the scope to join other forces following their dismissal from BDR without any reason.
They would submit a memorandum to the Home Affairs Adviser demanding their job restoration, he said.
Members of Gram Police Bahini, a specialised force for ensuring security in rural area, have been staging demonstration in front of the National Press Club for the last several days to increase their salary.
They took to the street in Kakrail intersection at around 5.30 pm.
Besides, students of Medical Assistant Training School (MATS), Family Planning Volunteers (Women), Independent Ibtedayi Madrasah Teachers Association and an organisation called Grassroots Citizens' Movement, held rallies and formed human chains across streets adjacent to the National Press Club to press home their demands. A group of students also took to the streets in Nilkhet, Science Lab and Uttara BNS Centre demanding cancellation of the remaining HSC exams.
Such programmes led to traffic diversion to alternative roads and huge congestion specially the hours before evening when many people were returning home from their workplaces.
"It took more than two hours to travel from Farmgate to Paltan which is at least four times higher than usual time required," a micro entrepreneur, HM Faisal, told the FE on Sunday evening. He stayed in a public bus for such a long time, he said, adding that the situation could have been better if the metro service were operational.
However, many people were seen walking towards their destinations leaving public transport behind.
A private sector employee Kabir Hossain was walking along the Moghbazar road towards Kakrail.
Talking to the FE, he said he somehow reached Paltan from Banani in the afternoon after travelling more than two hours by public transport.
"Now there is no alternative to walk as the helper of the bus requested all the passengers to leave it," he said.
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