Severe traffic congestion in Dhaka amid heavy rain and blockades

Dhaka city is facing severe traffic congestion following a combination of heavy rainfall and ongoing political protests on Thursday. The situation has left commuters stranded, with some areas experiencing gridlock for hours.

This morning, supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain staged sit-ins at several key locations, including Nagar Bhaban, High Court intersection, Matsya Bhaban, and Kakrail, demanding his immediate swearing-in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. The protests caused major disruptions, leading to long traffic jams in these areas.

Simultaneously, the student wing of BNP, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, held similar protests at Shahbagh intersection and in front of Hotel InterContinental, demanding justice for the killing of their leader, Samya. This further contributed to the traffic crisis.

The heavy rainfall, which lasted for over half an hour, caused waterlogging in several areas, including Dhanmondi and New Market, exacerbating the traffic chaos. Flooded roads and clogged intersections have left drivers and passengers stuck in gridlock.

A bus driver traveling from Uttara to Gulistan said, “The rain has caused severe flooding on the roads, and we’ve been stuck in the same spot for more than an hour. If this continues, it could take all day to reach Gulistan.”

Hasan, a businessman from Azimpur, shared his frustration: “I needed to urgently reach Motijheel for work, but after taking a motorcycle to avoid traffic, I’ve been stuck at Matsya Bhaban for the past 30 minutes.”

According to updates from Google Maps and the social media group "Traffic Alert," the traffic jams have spread to several other major areas, including Moghbazar, Karwan Bazar, Panthapath, Airport Road, Khilgaon, Malibagh, Rampura, Hatirjheel, and Mohakhali.

Authorities are advising commuters to seek alternative routes as the situation continues to worsen.