Anxiety centering blockade begins to subside

The anxiety among the common people centering the ongoing nationwide blockade has begun to subside. Traffic has increased on the streets of Dhaka on November 8, the first day of the two-day blockade. The number of private cars and public transports was seen increasing than other days. Traffic congestion has occurred in some areas as well.
Visiting Bangramotor, Kawran Bazar, Panthpath, Paltan, Gulisthan, Motijheel, Tanti Bazar, Sadarghat areas in the capital, a normal scenario is seen. Even if there is no heavy traffic, the roads of Dhaka seem quite as usual. Awami League leaders and workers were seen guarding some areas to tackle any untoward incidents.
Abdul Jalil, a CNG-run auto driver from Rampura in the capital, said that he had not seen any traffic jam during the last few days of the blockade. But the scenario has been changigradually. At least twice he waited for 15 minutes at the Karwan Bazar signal. As usual traffic was seen travelling from Karwan Bazar Railgate to Sonargaon Signal on the third spill of the blockade. Shops seen opened inthe capital’s Gulisthan, Bangshal, Nayabazar, English Road. The number of buyers was also considerable.
Abdul Ahad, a steel sheet seller in the capital's English Road, said that they did not close the shop due to the blockade. The buyer also came naturally. However, the truck drivers are demanding a little extra fare transport the goods.
However, even though the traffic in the capital has become normal, long-distance bus services are yet to come to normalcy. Contacted, person-in-charge of Eagle Transport said that Eagle Transport is not plying on highways.
However, all trains have left the capital as per the schedule. Launch movement on different routes from Sadarghat of the capital was quite normal.
Zainal Abedin, Director of Sadarghat Port of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) told Views Bangladesh that the launch services are available in a limited scale during the blockade.