Dhaka returned to its familiar busy rhythm on Sunday as traffic pressure mounted from early morning following the five-day Durga Puja holiday, with crowded roads, packed buses, blaring horns and busy commuters marking the capital’s return to normalcy.
Vehicular pressure began mounting after 8:00am, with buses, private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, motorcycles and rickshaws filling major streets. Long queues of vehicles formed at several points during the morning rush hour, while commuters struggled to board packed buses.
Visits to Rampura, Hatirjheel, Badda, Malibagh, Mouchak and Paltan showed heavy movement of office-goers and other commuters as businesses and workplaces reopened after the extended holiday.
At several bus stops, passengers were seen waiting for long periods. As buses arrived, commuters rushed to board, with many travelling standing due to a shortage of seats. Some failed to get on overcrowded buses and had to wait for the next one.
Frequent stops by buses to pick up and drop off passengers added to slow-moving traffic at several points.
Rampura and Badda witnessed particularly heavy pressure during the morning. Long queues of vehicles were seen on the roads, while crowds of commuters waited for public transport.
Hatirjheel also saw increased traffic as people headed to work by bus, private vehicle or on foot, causing slow movement at several points.
Similar scenes unfolded in Malibagh and Mouchak, where crowded buses, long lines of vehicles and blaring horns signalled the return of Dhaka’s regular weekday rush.
Footpaths in Paltan were also packed with people heading to offices and businesses, while pedestrians struggled to cross roads amid the heavy flow of vehicles.
Md Delwar, a traffic inspector of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) stationed in Badda, said vehicular pressure was particularly high between 8:00am and 10:00am.
“Today was the first working day after the long holiday, so there was heavy pressure of vehicles on the roads. We saw severe congestion between 8:00am and 10:00am, but we managed the situation. The pressure has now eased considerably,” he said.
Commuters, however, said the morning rush caused delays and made travelling difficult. “I came out for work after the holiday and found huge crowds. I had to wait for a bus, and even after getting on one, travelling was difficult because it was packed,” said office-goer Rajib Sarkar.
Bus driver Alauddin Mia said the number of both vehicles and passengers had risen sharply compared with the holiday period. “There have been many more vehicles and passengers since morning. Traffic congestion means every trip is taking longer than usual,” he said.
Pedestrian Aynal Hossain said the contrast with the holiday period was striking. “The roads were relatively quiet during the holidays. Today, the crowds, traffic jams and horns are all back. Dhaka has returned to its usual form,” he said.
The capital had enjoyed relatively light traffic during the Durga Puja holiday, but the reopening of offices and businesses on Sunday brought the familiar weekday rush back, with congestion and crowded public transport dominating the morning commute.
Dhaka returned to its familiar hustle and bustle on Sunday as residents resumed work after a five-day Durga Puja holiday, bringing traffic congestion, crowded public transport and busy streets back to the capital.
Vehicular pressure began building from early morning, with buses, private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles crowding major roads. Commuters waited for buses at different points, with many rushing to board as soon as one arrived.
Traffic jams, blaring horns and pedestrians hurrying across busy roads marked the return of the capital to its usual rhythm after several relatively quiet days.
Visits to Rampura, Hatirjheel, Badda, Malibagh, Mouchak and Paltan on Sunday morning found roads and footpaths bustling with office-goers and others heading to businesses and workplaces.
At several points, commuters were seen waiting for buses for extended periods, while traffic moved slowly on some roads amid heavy pressure.
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The writer is a Senior Sub-Editor at Daily Sun. He can be reached at hossainshahadat950@gmail.com