The capital city of Dhaka is held hostage quite literally by street protesters. Traffic chaos has become a regular phenomenon in the densely populated city due to protests. Thousands of commuters are forced to walk for miles amid the scorching heat to reach their destinations.
The capital has been witnessing severe traffic snarl as demonstrators occupy key intersections such as Natun Bazar, Shahbagh, Mohakhali, Rampura, Mirpur, and Sayedabad, plunging the city into gridlock. On Saturday, students of United International University (UIU) took to the streets at Natun Bazar, protesting arbitrary expulsion of their 26 fellows (honours final year) by the university authorities.
At the same time, non-MPO (monthly pay order) school teachers staged demonstration, blocking road in front of the National Press Club. They also vowed not to return home until the government meets their demand for MPO status.
It is the constitutional right of people to peaceful protests, but none can exercise this right in a manner that disrupts public life.
Protesters mainly block major roads and strategic intersections to press for their demands inflicting disproportionate hardship on the public. Office-goers, patients, students, and tourists alike are all bearing the brunt of this disruption.
The most vulnerable, including patients in need of urgent care, are among the worst affected as ambulances get stuck in never-ending traffic snarl. Protests have now become a near-daily event in Dhaka, made worse by a lack of effective response from authorities.
It is the constitutional right of
people to peaceful protests, but
none can exercise this right in a
manner that disrupts
public life
Since the formation of the interim government, there has been a noticeable increase in such demonstrations. Yet no concrete steps have been taken to mitigate their impact on daily life.
The failure to maintain order and ensure the smooth flow of traffic speaks to a broader issue of poor traffic governance and weak coordination among the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, city corporations, BRTA, and transport authorities. The economic cost of this chaos is staggering.
Dhaka loses over Tk 40,000 crore annually due to traffic congestion. And beyond the financial impact, the emotional and physical toll on city dwellers is immense—lost productivity, missed appointments, school delays, and unbearable stress.
Moreover, existing problems such as unfit vehicles, unqualified drivers, illegal roadside shops and pedestrian encroachment have further aggravated traffic mismanagement. Areas surrounding shopping hubs like New Market, Panthapath, Mouchak, and Dhanmondi are already jammed with vehicles and pedestrians competing for space. Protesters must find alternative avenues to voice their grievances—avenues that do not paralyze the city and punish ordinary citizens.
Sit-ins, symbolic protests, public forums, and digital campaigns can all serve the cause without bringing the capital to a standstill. Civil discourse and democratic demands must go hand in hand with respect for others’ rights—especially the fundamental right to free movement.
In the interest of the public, we urge demonstrators to refrain from blocking roads. We also call upon the authorities to urgently establish effective traffic management systems and ensure strict enforcement of the law.
Dhaka cannot afford to remain in this state of disorder, where every protest turns into a city-wide crisis. The capital must be allowed to breathe, function, and move forward.
