Tuesday, 15 July, 2025
Traffic in Dhaka’s Banani area came to a near-complete halt for almost six hours on Sunday as hundreds of CNG-run autorickshaw drivers blocked roads near the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office. The drivers were demanding unrestricted permission to operate freely within the Dhaka city corporation limits, citing long-standing restrictions that confine them to Dhaka district only.
The blockade began at around 12:30 pm, with demonstrators occupying both lanes of the road near the BRTA headquarters. Though authorities managed to reopen the northbound lane by mid-afternoon, the remaining blockage caused severe traffic congestion across surrounding neighbourhoods such as Gulshan, Mohakhali, and extended to the airport roundabout. The gridlock forced many commuters to abandon their vehicles and walk long distances.
The protest stemmed from the drivers’ demand for route access or full movement rights within the city. Currently, many CNG auto drivers are registered only for Dhaka district, not for the corporation area, severely limiting their operations and livelihoods. Drivers argued that these restrictions were unfair and economically damaging.
By early afternoon, the protesters had escalated their actions by surrounding the BRTA’s main gate, effectively trapping office staff inside. Police and Army units were deployed to maintain order and attempt negotiations.
The protest led to tense moments when motorcyclists tried to circumvent the blockade via footpaths, resulting in heated exchanges with demonstrators. Some protesters draped banners over police armoured vehicles, symbolizing their defiance.
The disruption severely affected other public transport services as well. A driver from Bhuiyan Paribahan bus service lamented being stuck in the traffic jam since noon, unable to move forward or reverse.
Commuters expressed frustration at the recurrent traffic chaos caused by such protests. “They block roads whenever they feel like it; our suffering doesn’t matter,” said Tariqul Islam, who walked to Banani with his wife and child from Kurmitola. Another commuter echoed the sentiment, condemning the “trend of bringing the city to a halt for narrow demands.”
The impasse finally ended around 6:30 pm after intervention by senior Army and police officials, who brokered a promise of dialogue between the BRTA chairman and protest leaders. A delegation of drivers was invited to discuss their demands formally, prompting the protesters to clear the roads.
Ziaur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Traffic for the Gulshan division, said, “Once the drivers vacated the roads, we immediately began working to ease the congestion.” Sharmin Akhtar Chumki, Assistant Commissioner of the Airport Zone, added that although traffic resumed, movement remained slow due to the extensive backlog.
The BRTA has agreed to hold formal talks with the drivers to explore possible adjustments to route permits and operational regulations, signaling a potential easing of restrictions in the future.
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Traffic in Dhaka’s Banani area came to a near-complete halt for almost six hours on Sunday as hundreds of CNG-run autorickshaw drivers blocked roads near the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office. The drivers were demanding unrestricted permission to operate freely within the Dhaka city corporation limits, citing long-standing restrictions that confine them to Dhaka district only.
The blockade began at around 12:30 pm, with demonstrators occupying both lanes of the road near the BRTA headquarters. Though authorities managed to reopen the northbound lane by mid-afternoon, the remaining blockage caused severe traffic congestion across surrounding neighbourhoods such as Gulshan, Mohakhali, and extended to the airport roundabout. The gridlock forced many commuters to abandon their vehicles and walk long distances.
The protest stemmed from the drivers’ demand for route access or full movement rights within the city. Currently, many CNG auto drivers are registered only for Dhaka district, not for the corporation area, severely limiting their operations and livelihoods. Drivers argued that these restrictions were unfair and economically damaging.
By early afternoon, the protesters had escalated their actions by surrounding the BRTA’s main gate, effectively trapping office staff inside. Police and Army units were deployed to maintain order and attempt negotiations.
The protest led to tense moments when motorcyclists tried to circumvent the blockade via footpaths, resulting in heated exchanges with demonstrators. Some protesters draped banners over police armoured vehicles, symbolizing their defiance.
The disruption severely affected other public transport services as well. A driver from Bhuiyan Paribahan bus service lamented being stuck in the traffic jam since noon, unable to move forward or reverse.
Commuters expressed frustration at the recurrent traffic chaos caused by such protests. “They block roads whenever they feel like it; our suffering doesn’t matter,” said Tariqul Islam, who walked to Banani with his wife and child from Kurmitola. Another commuter echoed the sentiment, condemning the “trend of bringing the city to a halt for narrow demands.”
The impasse finally ended around 6:30 pm after intervention by senior Army and police officials, who brokered a promise of dialogue between the BRTA chairman and protest leaders. A delegation of drivers was invited to discuss their demands formally, prompting the protesters to clear the roads.
Ziaur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Traffic for the Gulshan division, said, “Once the drivers vacated the roads, we immediately began working to ease the congestion.” Sharmin Akhtar Chumki, Assistant Commissioner of the Airport Zone, added that although traffic resumed, movement remained slow due to the extensive backlog.
The BRTA has agreed to hold formal talks with the drivers to explore possible adjustments to route permits and operational regulations, signaling a potential easing of restrictions in the future.
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