The streets of Dhaka have increasingly become battlegrounds for protests, leaving the city’s commuters helpless and frustrated. Each day, traffic deadlocks paralyse key intersections, often lasting for hours and turning routine travel into an exhausting ordeal. What used to be manageable delays have now become full-blown gridlocks, disrupting lives and livelihoods.
Dhaka, now a hotspot for frequent street protests, has seen its main roads blocked by demonstrators from various organisations and groups demanding redress for their grievances. While the right to protest is fundamental in a democracy, the method and location of these demonstrations are taking a heavy toll on ordinary citizens.
Office-goers, students, patients in urgent need of medical care, and the elderly are among the worst affected. Many have no choice but to walk for miles under the scorching sun or through pouring rain, caught between roadblocks and an unresponsive transport system. Strategic intersections such as Mohakhali, Banani, Shahbagh, Rampura, Mirpur, Sayedabad, and Abdullahpur are almost regularly brought to a standstill, sending shockwaves through the city’s already overburdened traffic system. CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers on Sunday staged a sit-in in front of the BRTA office in Banani, completely halting traffic along the crucial Uttara–Mohakhali route. Joined by drivers from outside Dhaka, the protest brought both directions of traffic to a standstill. Simultaneously, students often block major junctions such as Shahbagh, further aggravating the chaos.
Office-goers, students, patients in
urgent need of medical care, and
the elderly are among the worst
affected
Clashes between students of City College and Dhaka College near the Science Laboratory intersection have also become a regular occurrence, causing long-term blockades and cutting off access to vital city arteries. These incidents not only cripple mobility but also delay emergency services, with no end in sight. Even during early morning hours—when commuters expect a smoother journey—sudden protests and blockades make reaching destinations on time next to impossible. Many residents find themselves spending hours stuck in traffic every day, drained of time and energy.
In the absence of visible action by the authorities these protests have gained momentum. This lack of intervention is further encouraging aggrieved groups to take to the streets.
As a result, the city’s transport infrastructure continues to spiral into disorder. Despite limited efforts by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the two city corporations, no effective long-term strategy has been put in place. All current traffic management attempts appear futile in the face of such widespread disruption.
This crisis is not limited to a few intersections. The impact is felt city-wide, including Banani, the Mohakhali Flyover, the Chief Adviser’s Office, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Bangla Motor, Shahbagh, Matsho Bhaban, and the National Press Club. Busy commercial zones such as New Market, Panthapath, Mouchak, Malibagh, Kakrail, and Dhanmondi also suffer severe congestion, compounded by makeshift stalls encroaching on pavements, forcing pedestrians onto already crowded roads.
As rush hour approaches, the situation worsens. Reports of people missing flights, appointments, and even medical emergencies are increasingly common. Traffic jams often begin in the afternoon and continue into the night, making life in Dhaka a daily challenge.
We believe it is the shared responsibility of traffic police, the BRTA, city corporations, and transport owners’ associations to restore order and ease congestion. What is needed now is an integrated and coordinated approach, backed by strong governance and firm enforcement. Without urgent action, the city’s traffic crisis will only deepen.
Dhaka’s residents deserve a functioning city where daily life is not constantly disrupted by protests and gridlock. It is time for the authorities to act decisively to restore
order on our roads and relieve the people of this ongoing hardship.
