Dhaka gridlocked over Jamaat’s mammoth rally

City dwellers in Dhaka endured severe traffic congestion throughout Saturday as thousands of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists poured into the capital to attend the party's national rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.
The rally, held to press a seven-point demand, triggered a massive influx of Jamaat supporters from across the country, overwhelming Dhaka's transport system and paralysing key roads.
Traffic jams were reported from early morning at key city entry points including Gabtoli, Mohakhali, Sayedabad, and the Kamalapur Railway Station, as convoys of buses and microbuses carrying rally-goers entered the city.
By mid-morning, congestion had stretched across long sections of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, particularly from Kajla, Shanir Akhra, and Rayerbagh to Dhaka Medical College.
Many buses bore banners identifying the passengers as Jamaat members heading to the rally. In addition to buses, microbuses and other private vehicles used the Mayor Hanif Flyover to reach Gulistan and then Suhrawardy Udyan, adding to the bottlenecks.
The impact of the influx was felt throughout the city. Streets in areas including Shahbagh, Dhanmondi, Farmgate, Malibagh, Mogbazar, Mirpur Road, Manik Mia Avenue, and Khamarbari remained choked for hours. Vehicles were stranded for long periods, with many passengers forced to get down and walk.
Jamaat activists and ordinary commuters alike were seen navigating the city on foot, including near Banani, Mohakhali, Karwan Bazar, and Motijheel.
"I got stuck in traffic at Shanir Akhra for nearly an hour," said Md Anwar Ullah, a private employee. "Eventually I got off the bus and walked to my office in Purana Paltan."
With public transport in short supply, rickshaw fares surged. "I had to pay Tk180 for a rickshaw ride from Jatrabari to Kamalapur -- normally it's Tk100-120," said small trader Md Suman Mia.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com