The Islamic mass conference organized as part of preparations for the Tablig Jamaat’s World Ijtema at Sohrawardi Udyan has caused severe traffic congestion throughout Dhaka. Since early morning, traffic has nearly come to a halt in Shahbagh, Paltan, and surrounding areas.
The resulting gridlock has spread across the city, causing significant hardship, especially for office commuters and patients requiring urgent care.
Law enforcement officials observed widespread traffic jams around almost every area of Dhaka due to the large-scale gathering at Sohrawardi Udyan. Heavy traffic pressure at major intersections, including National Press Club Road, Kakrail Junction, Bijoy Sarani, and Paltan, kept traffic police struggling to manage the flow.
Muslim attendees were seen walking along sidewalks and streets, holding banners and festoons. Roads around Shahbagh and the Dhaka University area were lined with parked private cars, microbuses, and large buses, contributing to the roadblocks.
A traffic sergeant on duty explained that attendees had begun arriving at Sohrawardi Udyan early in the morning, causing congestion as vehicles entered Dhaka from various areas.
Meanwhile, at Amtoli, students from Titumir College halted traffic at approximately 12:30 PM as they demonstrated, demanding the college’s upgrade to a public university. The shutdown of inbound and outbound traffic at Amtoli Crossing due to this protest has further intensified the public’s commuting difficulties.
