With a population of 2.32 million, Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka has become a hotbed for street protests, creating considerable challenges for its residents.
Demonstrations take to the streets at various key locations, leading to severe traffic congestion and delays, and making daily life a struggle for residents with no signs of easing.
Primary school teachers protest at Shaheed Minar, demand implementation of 10th grade salary scale
Movement of commuters has become troublesome as demonstrators occupy even the busy roads whimsically, triggering traffic chaos in many parts of the capital almost every day.
Students, office-goers and businesses are experiencing immense hardship and the worst affected are patients who need immediate medical care but have to stay on roads for hours amid clogged traffic. Many are being forced to walk long distances home after work.
Protests have become a regular phenomenon amid the absence of the interim government’s visible efforts to prevent them. Since the formation of the interim government, the capital has witnessed a surge in protests.
At a time when the Dr. Yunus-led interim government is grappling with major reforms and other mounting pressures, many including students of seven Dhaka University-affiliated colleges, Titumir College, railway and police staff took to the streets to press home various demands.
Talking to UNB, some pedestrians, including Mohammad Ali, Mojammel and Faijur Rahman, said these multi-faceted demonstrations are not just a concern for the government but have also become a daily suffering for Dhaka’s residents.
Titumir College students block roads at Mohakhali
On Sunday alone, at least five to six demonstrations were held while over the past week, nearly 20 to 25 rallies, human chains, and siege programmes took place. Students of Government Titumir College began protests demanding recognition of the college as a university.
They blocked the main road in front of their college at around 11 am, halting traffic from Mohakhali to Gulshan.
Passengers were seen engaged in heated arguments with the protesters but the students remained firm in their demand, refusing to clear the road until their demands are met.
Education and Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said universities cannot be established based on ultimatums.
Speaking at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, he said, "We are here for governance and reform, not for fulfilling such demands. The government will not set up a university under pressure."
Following his remarks, Titumir College students staged another protest march in the evening. Later, they blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, bringing traffic to a standstill.
They announced a fresh blockade for 11 hours from 11 am to 10 pm on Monday.
Earlier, on Sunday noon, former police personnel who lost their jobs under the Awami League government gathered near the High Court Mazar, demanding job reinstatement.
Meanwhile, the Inquilab Mancha planned a siege of the Ministry of Home Affairs at 2 pm on Sunday to protest the alleged safe exit of those responsible for the July massacre and to demand the resignation of the home affairs adviser.
Later, the Secretariat’s main gate was briefly closed as part of the demonstration.
Besides, injured victims of the July uprising blocked roads near the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), the National Institute of Ophthalmology, and Agargaon’s revenue building, demanding rehabilitation and their better medical treatment. Only ambulances and patients were allowed to pass, causing severe traffic congestion in the area.
The injured also staged a protest near Shishumela Road, reiterating their demand for medical care and compensation.
Regarding the ongoing protests, Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk-e-Azam told UNB that the government is working to assist the injured and the families of those killed in the uprising. Some of them might be making excessive monetary demands and external influences could be fueling the demonstrations, he said.
“The government is forming the July Uprising Directorate under which a framework will be laid out to provide compensation and support. It may take some time, which has led to concerns among the injured. But the interim government is fully committed to helping them,” he assured.
