Commuters suffer as Islamic group calls rally brings Dhaka traffic to a halt

Gridlocks brought Dhaka to a standstill ahead of a rally called by the Islamic group Ulama Mashayekh Bangladesh at the capital's Suhrawary Udyan today (5 November).

Local media outlets have reported severe traffic congestion in the Dhaka Elevated Expressway's exit ramp near FDC, Mogbazar, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar and Shahbagh.


"This is just a nightmare. I don't know what they wish to achieve in future through this rally, but their programme is costing the commuters precious time right now," said Tamim, a frustrated office-goer stuck in the jam along with hundreds of others in the Khamarbari area.

"Who will pay for our loss?" he asked.

The rally that was scheduled to begin at 9am this morning (5 November), will be attended by 41 Islamic scholars of the country, including Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, Allama Khalil Ahmad Kasemi, Allama Abdul Hameed, as per a statement sent to media on Sunday (3 November).


The rally that was scheduled to begin at 9am this morning (5 November), will be attended by 41 Islamic scholars of the country, including Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, Allama Khalil Ahmad Kasemi, Allama Abdul Hameed, as per a statement sent to media on Sunday (3 November).

Since early this morning, in different locations of the city people were seen walking to the venue to attend the conference.

Empty buses bringing people to Dhaka to attend the rallies were also parked on the roads near the venue.

Metro stations also witnessed an upsurge of passengers since the morning.

Due to the large gatherings around the Suhrawardy Udyan venue, traffic in the surrounding areas came to a standstill, causing severe disruptions throughout the city.