Savar residents blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway on Wednesday, demanding long-term solutions to water stagnation in two neighbourhoods that local people said regularly went under after rainfall.
The blockade began around 9:50am near the Fulbaria bus stand, halting vehicular movement on the busy highway and causing severe traffic congestion in the area, the police and residents said.
Protesters from Fulbaria and Shovapur said that the problem had persisted for years, forcing people to endure flooding after every bout of rain.
Despite repeated complaints to the authorities, no steps were taken, they said.
鈥榃ater stagnation has been a chronic problem in Shovapur. We have raised the issue many times but nothing has been done. That is why we were compelled to take to the streets,鈥� said local resident Mujibur Rahman.
鈥榃ater sometimes gets into the houses and causes waterborne diseases,鈥� a protesting resident Mukul Hossain said.
The police and other law enforcement officials arrived at the scene and held talks with villagers, who agreed to withdraw shortly before noon after assurances of action, officials said.
鈥楲ocals blocked the highway for nearly one hour, demanding solutions to water stagnation,鈥� said Saleh Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Savar Highway Police.
鈥極ur team persuaded them to leave and traffic is now under control.鈥�
Traffic on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, a vital link between the capital and the country鈥檚 north-west region, was restored around 11:00am.
