Processions and rallies by different groups pressing for different demands along with potholed roads and infrastructure construction works caused choking traffic congestion almost all over Dhaka city on Sunday.
The situation caused immense suffering to the commuters and transport workers compelled to wait on the roads in frustration for hours on end.
On the day, teachers, students and government jobseekers held separate rallies and blocked roads in National Press Club, Science Laboratory and Shahbagh areas.
Hours of traffic congestion was seen all over the city, including National Press Club, Bangladesh Secretariat, Paltan, Gulistan, Motijheel, Shahbagh, Science Lab, Kakrail, Rampura, Badda, Malibagh, Khilgaon, Jurain, Moghbazar, Bijoy Sarani, Love Road and Mohakhali areas.
At about 10:30am around 500 higher secondary students of Dhaka College blocked the Science Lab crossing, demanding critical changes in the draft ordinance relating to the establishment of proposed Dhaka Central University.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police joint commissioner traffic (north) Md Abu Sufian Ahmed said that the students left the road at about 11:00am.
During their protest, traffic congestion spread at New Market, Shahbagh, Hatirpool and Dhanmondi areas, halting and slowing down vehicular movement over a vast area.
About the same time 2鈥�3 kilometres away in front of the National Press Club, gathered several hundred secondary-level schoolteachers under the monthly pay order scheme, pressing for an increase in their house rent allowance.
As the teachers blocked the road there, vehicular movement was almost halted in Paltan, Gulistan, Dhaka University, Motijheel and Kakrail areas by noon.
At about 1:30pm the police came to the spot and asked the protesting teachers to remove their blockade.
As the teachers refused, the police hurled at least three sound grenades, spray water-canon and charged batons on them, forcing them to move towards the Central Shaheed Minar at about 2:00pm.
Many commuters were seen get down from vehicles and walk during the blockade.聽聽
About a kilometre away in Shahbagh area, a section of candidates of the 18th non-government teacher鈥檚 registration examinations who did not get the final recommendations for jobs blocked the road in front of the National Museum since morning.
They stayed there till afternoon while vehicles had to move through one side of the road in sluggish pace, navigating the resulting traffic congestion inside the Dhaka University campus and Shahbagh.
In other parts of the city, the under-construction Dhaka Elevated Expressway and potholed roads caused by the construction works perpetuated terrible traffic congestion in Malibagh, Khilgaon, Rampura and Badda areas on the day.
At Badda, the ongoing construction work of the Dhaka North City Corporation in front of Jamuna Future Park, vehicles as usually moved in a sluggish pace on the day.
DMP joint commissioner Abu Sufian said that due to potholes on roads between Malibagh and Jurain areas vehicles were stuck on roads till afternoon.
Due to VIP movement, the Elevated Expressway鈥檚 Love Road and Bijoy Sarani ramps were closed at around 11:00am which also created huge traffic congestion in these areas.
At around 5:00pm, in Mohakhali area, a bus fell on two vehicles while getting down from the expressway, adding to the daylong traffic congestion and suffering on Sunday.
