People suffer amid ‘Bangla Blockade’
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Dhaka descended into a chaos yesterday as student protests demanding reforms in the government quota system for jobs brought traffic to a standstill. Long lines of vehicles, including private cars, buses, CNG-run auto rickshaws, remained stranded for hours, unable to move an inch.
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The impact on commuters was immediate and widespread. Job holders and students found themselves running late, their schedules thrown into disarray. Rickshaw-pullers, CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers, and ride-sharing app drivers all saw their earnings plummet as the gridlock brought the city to a standstill.
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The ordeal began early in the day with Dhaka College students taking over the Science Lab intersection, triggering traffic jams that spread across major roads like Azimpur-New Market to Mirpur and Gabtoli.
By 4:00pm, the gridlock intensified as students blocked more intersections, including Shahbagh, Hotel Intercontinental turning, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, and Chankharpul.
This brought vehicular movement to a near halt, with reports of severe congestion in Tantibazar, Ray Saheb Bazar, Bangshal, Gulistan, Purana Paltan, Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Agargaon, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Mirpur-10, New Market, and Science Lab.
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Private job holder Mahmudul Hasan described his ordeal traveling from Khilgaon to Farmgate.
"I got stuck in a gridlock near Hotel Intercontinental," he said. "The journey typically takes 30-40 minutes, but due to the traffic, it took over an hour as I had to reroute through Moghbazar."
College student Raid Hasan shared his frustration after being stuck in the Bijoy Sarani area for over 30 minutes. Similarly, Adnan Sejan, a commuter, said he was stuck in front of Square Hospitals in Panthapath for 40 minutes.
The situation worsened during the evening rush hour, leading to further congestion.
Delwar Hossain, a pickup driver transporting ceramic goods, found himself stuck at Karwan Bazar for more than an hour.
"It took me three and a half hours to reach here from Dhamrai," he said. "The students' blockades have brought everything to a halt. Will causing us such distress help them achieve their demands?" he asked.
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Private sector employee Hasan Uddin said, "Everyone is walking back home. I walked for 40 minutes from Kakrail intersection to Karwan Bazar."
Salam Hossain, who drives for a ride-sharing app, was stuck at Shahbagh intersection from 3:00pm to 7:30pm. "There was a teacher in my car who was forced to leave the vehicle and walk at 4:00pm due to a lack of alternatives," he said.
The protests, dubbed the "Bangla Blockade" programme, also caused hardship for rickshaw pullers like Soheb Miah. "I couldn't get a single trip all day," he said.
"I pleaded with the students to let me pass, but they refused. If my rickshaw doesn't run, I don't earn a living. I've been stuck here in Shahbagh since 3:00pm," he said.
Meanwhile, agitating students declared to block important intersections of the capital and highways adjacent to colleges and universities across the country today.
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