Staff Correspondent:

Dhaka city has once again come to a standstill, with commuters facing severe distress as protests and demonstrations have become a near-daily occurrence in key areas of the capital, causing major traffic disruptions.

Leaders and activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have been staging demonstrations over the past few days, demanding justice for Shahriar Alam Shammo—a Dhaka University student and JCD leader—who was killed recently.

On Thursday, defying the rain, they blocked the road from Shahbagh intersection to Hotel Intercontinental from the morning, completely halting vehicular movement in the area.

Meanwhile, supporters of Ishraque Hossain had been occupying the Matsya Bhaban intersection since Wednesday, demanding his oath-taking as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

Following the High Court’s verdict earlier on Thursday, the protesters withdrew from this particular demand. However, they have now resumed the blockade—stretching from Matsya Bhaban to Jamuna—demanding the resignation of advisers Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Mahfuj Alam.

With key intersections closed off, movement across the city has ground to a halt. Hundreds of vehicles were seen stuck on roads leading to and from Science Lab, Panthapath, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, and Bijoy Sarani. The closure from Shahbagh to Hotel Intercontinental has also paralyzed surrounding lanes and alleyways.

On-site visits revealed a complete suspension of traffic from the Press Club toward Shahbagh, and from Shahbagh to Paltan and Gulistan. Public transport drivers were seen idling in place, while many passengers had to abandon their vehicles and continue their journeys on foot.

Transport workers expressed frustration over the daily disruptions. “We are incurring huge losses every day because of these blockades,” one said. “Even after showing up for work, we return empty-handed. We’re struggling to even cover the owner’s dues.”

Ziaur Rahman, who was heading from Shahbagh to Mohammadpur, said: “No vehicles have moved since morning. There’s no choice but to walk. Let’s see how far I can make it on foot.”

Another commuter, Tania Begum, who was stuck at Banglamotor, said: “I was on my way to Dhaka Medical. I got into a rickshaw but had to get off almost immediately. It couldn’t move forward even inside the alleys. Is this any way for a country to function? Are we not even allowed to leave our homes?”

Akhter Hossain, a CNG autorickshaw driver caught in the gridlock, said: “Since morning, I’ve only had one passenger. I’ve been stuck in traffic since then. If I stay like this all day, how will I pay the owner? How will I cover my family’s expenses?”

When contacted, Nafis Ahmed, a traffic sergeant of the Ramna zone, said: “Due to the blockade, seven key points have been closed since morning. No vehicles are moving in any direction. There’s nothing we can do. Unless the protesters withdraw from the roads, the congestion will not ease. Large vehicles have now entered narrow alleys in search of alternate routes, which has only worsened the situation.”