DHAKA: It was about 4:30pm while Mosharraf Mollah from Araihazar of Narayanganj was walking past the National Press Club. “I am carrying lunch for my sick mother admitted into Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University,” he says.

Roads in downtown Dhaka were closed to buses and other commuter vehicles for opposition BNP’s grand rally on Wednesday afternoon.

He said he was coming from Tikatuli on foot as his bus was halted near Tikatuli because of severe traffic jams for the rally in the city.

Sources said like Mosharraf thousands of city-dwellers suffered due to acute traffic jams. “People were seen walk or take van to reach their destinations,” says an eyewitness account of the scenes.

Ambulance and utility services’ cars were also seen facing the problem.

At Paltan crossing, the organizers of the grand rally directly telecast the discourses from the stage. Thousands of supporters were viewing the show blocking the crossroads. It only added to the public woes.

Sohel, a driver of well-known no. 8 bus, said it took him more than 2 hours to come to Matsya Bhaban from the Ittefaq crossing. “It takes normally 20-25 minutes at other times,” he added.

Samiya, a student, said she had to walk to reach her residence at Ajimpur from Paltan, as she could not catch a bus.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was holding its grand rally for Dhaka Division at Paltan Ground.  Tide of processions began to come in from the morning.

Ashak Roy, officer-in-charge of traffic control room, told banglanews24.com.bd, “During all the functions, traffic faces huge crowd and we have already requested all media to announce the message so the city-dwellers avoid the roads of the Paltan areas.”
     
BDST: 1737HRS, May 19, 2010
TSA/MMA/MUA