A major traffic artery in the capital ground to a halt on Thursday afternoon after transport owners and workers laid siege to the busy thoroughfare outside the Mohakhali Bus Terminal. The spontaneous blockade was triggered by a law enforcement crackdown on illegally parked vehicles, sparking severe congestion that quickly rippled across surrounding commercial and residential districts.
Demonstrations began during the peak afternoon rush as anger over traffic enforcement boiled over. Transport workers parked several long-route buses diagonally across both carriage lanes, creating an insurmountable barrier. Within minutes, traffic ground to a complete standstill along the vital link connecting central Dhaka to northern districts, trapping thousands of commuters in severe gridlock as they attempted to return home from work.
The knock-on effects were swift and damaging. Heavy congestion rapidly spilled into neighbouring areas, including Banani, Gulshan, Tejgaon, and Satrasta. Commuters faced extraordinary delays, with many forced to abandon stationary public transport and proceed on foot.
Sergeant Belal Hossain, a traffic officer stationed in Mohakhali, confirmed that workers had completely sealed off both sides of the road, causing catastrophic tailbacks throughout the sector. Mahbubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon Industrial Zone Police Station, noted that transport workers reacted aggressively after police moved to clear illegally parked vehicles. He added that law enforcement officers were actively negotiating with demonstrators to restore order and reopen the transport corridor.
The primary catalyst for the dispute stems from a municipal drive to relocate idle and out-of-service buses from overcrowded terminals in Mohakhali to an alternative site in Purbachal. The initiative has created mounting friction between transport operators and authorities. Workers accused the police of harassment, alleging that any vehicle parked outside the strict terminal boundary is immediately towed away and hit with heavy fines.
Protesters also voiced strong concerns regarding the safety of the new facility in Purbachal. Kamrul Hasan, a bus driver present at the protest, stated that the alternative site lacks essential perimeter security and oversight. Drivers reported incidents of theft, claiming essential equipment—including heavy-duty bus batteries—had been stolen from vehicles left unattended at the site.
Chanting slogans against police harassment, fines, and towing charges, the workers demanded the resignation of an additional police commissioner. The unions maintain that the blockade will remain in place until municipal authorities address security gaps in Purbachal and establish a fair, coordinated framework for parking enforcement.
