Dhaka Traffic Alert: Heavy Gridlock Expected Along Key Corridors Amid Major Gatherings

Multiple large-scale political, civic, and cultural gatherings across Dhaka on Saturday have triggered major traffic congestion along several primary thoroughfares. The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has advised city residents to exercise caution and avoid non-essential travel through Manik Mia Avenue, the Parliament compound area, Tejgaon, and surrounding corridors. Commuters traveling through these zones are urged to allocate substantial extra travel time. A key contributor to the disruption is the "Concert for Solidarity", organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs at Manik Mia Avenue to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day. Slated to run from 3:00 PM until midnight, the event required erecting a stage across one of the road lanes near the South Plaza of the National Parliament. Traffic authorities closed that lane early in the morning, partitioning the remaining opposite lane to handle two-way traffic. Adding to the congestion, a massive procession organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) from its central headquarters in Naya Paltan is heading toward Manik Mia Avenue. Consequently, key arterial routes spanning Naya Paltan, Kakrail, Farmgate, Asad Gate, and connecting access points toward the Parliament grounds are bracing for heavy bottlenecks, particularly during the late afternoon and evening hours. Simultaneously, the National Parade Ground in Tejgaon hosted a massive convention of the Gram Police. An estimated 40,000 village police personnel converged on the grounds, creating significant travel snarls and slowing traffic around the former Trade Fair grounds, Bijoy Sarani, and adjoining sections of Tejgaon. DMP Deputy Commissioner of Traffic (Tejgaon Division) Rafiqul Islam stated that while weekend vehicle volumes are generally lighter, high turnout at these venues creates acute local bottlenecks. He noted that if crowd density surges later in the evening, authorities stand ready to activate planned traffic diversions. Under severe gridlock, vehicles arriving from Shyamoli will be diverted through Lake Road, Khejur Bagan, and Kalabagan. However, police intend to keep Manik Mia Avenue moving via structured lane channeling as long as feasible. Rafiqul Islam emphasized that additional officers from both the traffic and crime divisions have been deployed across key intersections. Law enforcement personnel will remain stationed on site until the conclusion of the concert at midnight to minimize public inconvenience and maintain order.