Intense Traffic Jam Hits Dhaka Morning

Dhaka witnessed severe traffic congestion on Sunday morning (3 August), as multiple political and cultural gatherings coincided with the city’s regular rush hour. Student League organised a ‘Student Rally’ at Shahbagh to commemorate the July–August popular uprising and mark the first anniversary of national mourning and victory. Meanwhile, the National Committee of India–Bangladesh (NCP) held a public gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar, demanding the release of the July Declaration and associated documents. The simultaneous events led to considerable strain on the capital’s roads.

The morning rush was further exacerbated by it being the first working day of the week, combined with the heavy influx of students attending HSC and BCS examinations. Commuters faced prolonged delays and sluggish traffic movement across key routes. From 8:30 am to 9:00 am, areas such as Shyamoli, Kallyanpur, and surrounding streets experienced acute congestion, causing significant disruption to daily travel.

Morning Rush: Commuters Struggle

From the early hours, vehicles crowded the streets, while public transport saw an overwhelming passenger load. At bus stops across the city, office-goers jostled to board buses, often creating chaotic scenes. Shyamoli-based private sector employee Shamim Hossain, travelling to Karwan Bazar, said, “There’s barely space to step into the bus. Even once aboard, it’s impossible to predict when we’ll reach our destination.”

CNG driver Alamgir reported, “It took 35 minutes to reach Shyamoli from the Technical Signal area. Normally, it would take no more than 10 minutes. The traffic jam is fairly extensive.” Another bus assistant added, “No jam was observed approaching Aminbazar, but congestion began immediately after crossing it.”

Police Advisory and Road Diversions

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) issued a public notice on Saturday, signed by Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, announcing temporary traffic diversions due to the rallies and cultural events. Apart from the Shahbagh and Shaheed Minar gatherings, the Saimum Artists’ Group held a ‘July Awakening’ programme at Suhrawardy Udyan. DMP urged commuters to follow designated alternative routes during peak congestion periods.

Key diversions are outlined in the table below:

These measures aim to reduce congestion and facilitate safer, smoother travel. Despite the diversions, high commuter volume and dense participation in the rallies are likely to continue impacting city traffic throughout the morning.

Authorities urged residents to avoid the affected areas wherever possible and follow official guidelines for alternate routes. With Shahbagh, Shaheed Minar, and Suhrawardy Udyan hosting large crowds, Dhaka’s roads faced a pronounced slowdown, reminding commuters of the recurring challenges posed by mass gatherings in the capital.