Massive gridlock in Dhaka as MPs take oath at Parliament

Dhaka has experienced a massive gridlock across the city as the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected members of parliament is taking place at the Jatiya Sangsad premises.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police, several roads were diverted for the ceremony, but traffic officials told The Business Standard that the gridlock intensified as many party activists and local leaders joined the MPs.

Assistant Commissioner of Darus Salam traffic zone Ariful Islam Roby said the congestion is "as usual," but long queues at filling stations due to low gas pressure have added to the problem.

Commuters expressed frustration over the unprecedented traffic. Sheriff Al Sire, travelling from Uttara to Dhanmondi, said, "It was bumper-to-bumper traffic today. It took around three times the usual time to reach my destination from Uttara to Dhanmondi. I have not experienced such gridlock in recent months. I left Uttara at 8:15am and only reached Badda by 11am."

Isphani Islamia Eye Hospital patient Chhobi Begum, who had just undergone an eye operation, faced a harrowing journey home to Mirpur-2.

She was seen with her husband Monir Hossain waiting at Khamarbari Mor at around 11:30am. Monir Hossain told reporters, "Today this road is completely blocked. I don't know how to get to Mirpur. Rickshaws charge a lot if we have to take a detour, and buses or other public transport aren't available. If I were alone, I could have walked, but I have to take my sick wife with me. We are forced to wait on this busy road."

The closure of Manik Mia Avenue forced smaller vehicles to divert through neighborhood streets, causing further congestion on already narrow roads.

Delwar, stuck in traffic on Indira Road while trying to go from Dhanmondi to Farmgate, said, "The lagunas (small three-wheelers) are taking small streets, but it's impossible to move. I haven't even made it an hour into my journey. If I had known the roads would be blocked today, I wouldn't have left home."

Social media users voiced similar frustration. Sneha Majumdar wrote, "If the government had declared a public holiday today, the suffering of people would have been much less. It's extremely disappointing that troubles start even before the vote results are implemented."

Mirpur resident Zahid Hossain Khan wrote on Facebook, "Isn't the parliament walking the same path as the previous one by swearing-in on an office day and increasing traffic in this city? Would there have been a problem if the oath had been taken in the evening? Morning shows the day, right? I do not want to see such conditions for the next five years."

Google Maps data showed heavy traffic on several major roads leading to the parliament, including Mirpur Road, Satmasjid Road, DIT Road, Parliament Avenue, Hatirjheel, Badda, Motijheel, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Dhanmondi, and Segunbagicha, reflecting the impact of the oath-taking ceremony.