Rain, traffic jam, power cuts : Hard weekend in Dhaka

Traffic Officer-In-Charge at Banglamotor said there is usually less traffic on the road during holidays.

There was not so pressure on Dhaka's roads, shopping malls, and public parks during the consecutive hartal and blockade by the BNP-Jamaat and like-minded parties in the past few weeks. The weekends were different, though.

However, there was a different picture on some roads in the capital Friday morning. While many used the holiday to catch up on personal work, they had to face the drizzling rain that was triggered by Cyclone Midhili. People who went out suffered due to severe traffic jams while paying an additional fare to reach their destination.

Meanwhile, those who stayed at home experienced power cuts several times in the morning due to the stormy weather. Transformer blasts were reported in some parts of the capital

A woman is seen walking with a child going to school amid rain in Dhaka on Friday, November 17, 2023. Photo: Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Launch operations to and from Sadarghat and the coastal districts were also suspended due to the cyclonic storm, which made a soft landing last evening. Due to the cyclone, strong winds and rains were reported in most parts of the country.

Due to the political programs on weekdays, some private educational institutions have changed their routine and are continuing to teach on holidays. Many private universities, colleges, and English-medium schools were open on Friday.

On the other hand, the Bangladesh Bar Council’s lawyer enrollment examination started at 1am at various educational institutions in the capital. Thousands of people entered the capital to sit for this test. As a result, the traffic pressure increased around the exam centres.

Rakibul Hasan came to Dhaka from Chattogram with his wife in the morning to take part in the lawyer enrollment examination. This reporter talked to him in front of Kurmitola BAF Shaheen College in the capital.

He said: "My wife is taking part in this examination. We came to Dhaka by journeying all night. As soon as I got off the train at the airport railway station, I saw it was drizzling. We took a CNG auto-rickshaw by paying Tk100 more than the usual fare.”

Some students are seen soaking in rain in the Dhaka University area in Dhaka on Friday, Meanwhile, many people faced traffic jams after leaving their homes in the morning. Around 9am, traffic congestion on Mirpur Road was noticeable. Every vehicle crossing Asadgate, Bijay Sarani, Kawran Bazar, and Banglamator areas had to face traffic congestion.

Traffic Officer-In-Charge at Banglamotor said there is usually less traffic on the road during holidays. If there is a special reason or a program, the number of cars increases a little on these days.

“Many educational institutions are open on holidays in some places, and public exams are underway, resulting in vehicle pressure in those areas,” he added.