Thousands join march for CEC’s removal

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Traffic management system virtually collapsed yesterday in parts of the capital for six hours due to the Election Commission (EC) siege programme enforced by Jubo Sangram Parishad and barricades erected by police on the streets around the EC.

Thousands of commuters had a hard time reaching their workplaces and other destinations during the morning rush hours as police put up barbwire barricades in streets leading to the EC to restrict the demonstrators from entering the EC.

Demonstrations by thousands of people on the major thoroughfares of the city during the siege programme multiplied the plight of the city dwellers.

The worst affected areas were Dhanmondi, Lalmatia, Mohammadpur, Elephant Road, Green Road and Sobhanbagh — where a massive traffic gridlock forced people to be stuck in their vehicles for several hours.

All modes of vehicles from Mirpur and Gulistan and vice versa were forced to take a detour through the side roads and alleyways of Mohammadpur, Lalmatia, Green Road and Dhanmondi to reach their destinations. This caused severe traffic congestion in the area and worsened the overall traffic situation in the city.

Many guardians in these areas were seen walking their school going children to and from their schools.

“It took me around two hours to walk less than a kilometre from Scholastica School at Dhanmondi to Sobhanbagh,” said a guardian.

Many schools, markers and businesses also remained closed in these areas during the siege programme.

Police put up barbwire barricades in the morning at Rapa Plaza, Asad Gate and Shishu Mela on Mirpur Road, at the Mirpur10 roundabout, Agargaon intersection and Khamarbari on Rokeya Sarani blocking all vehicular movements. The effect of the traffic gridlock caused by the barricades reached Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue and brought traffic on this very important road to a standstill.

Being intercepted at these points, thousands of demonstrators headed for the EC held rallies and formed human chains on the roads aggravating the traffic jam.

Hundreds of people were stranded at bus stoppages on Mirpur Road and Rokeya Sarani as motorised vehicles did not run on these roads during the siege programme.

However, many rickshaw and rickshaw-van pullers did brisk business as they charged almost double the normal fare, commuters alleged.

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