Rallies and demonstrations bring Dhaka to a halt

At least four protests in Dhaka yesterday brought parts of the city to a standstill, causing severe traffic congestion and significant hardships for commuters. Demonstrations took place in Mohakhali, Shikkha Bhaban, Agargaon, and Shaheed Minar, each driven by different demands that disrupted daily life.

In Mohakhali, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers staged a sit-in around 12:30 pm, blocking the road in front of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority office in Banani. Their nine-point demand included the immediate implementation of a Tk 900 daily deposit rate set by the BRTA, registration of 5,000 CNGs from 2007, approval for an additional 15,000 CNGs, Tk 10 lakh compensation for work-related deaths, and the right to form unions in line with ILO rules. They also called for proper parking spaces, lane access on highways, and changes to anti-worker transport laws.

The blockade created a massive traffic jam on the Mohakhali-Banani road and surrounding routes, including Banani-Airport Road. Commuters were stuck for hours, with some taking alternative routes to reach their destinations. "I was stuck in traffic at Banani-11 for an hour before I had to take the expressway," said Rawshan Ali, a private employee.

The protest ended around 2:00 pm, and traffic gradually returned to normal.

Meanwhile, in Shahbagh, hundreds of job seekers gathered in front of the National Museum at 11:30 am, demanding an increase in the age limit for government job applications to 35 years for men and 37 years for women. They cited recommendations from the Public Administration Reforms Commission, which proposed raising the age limit from the current 32 years set by the interim government.

The demonstrators marched toward the Secretariat at 3:30 pm but were blocked by police near Shikkha Bhaban. A scuffle ensued as officers set up barricades to prevent their progress. The protesters then staged a sit-in, disrupting traffic in the area. Sub-inspector Mahfuzur Rahman of Shahbagh Police Station said, "Protests near the Secretariat are prohibited. We had to stop them to maintain order."

At the Central Shaheed Minar, over 200 students from Dhaka Medical College and Sir Salimullah Medical College gathered around 11:30 am, demanding the republication of medical admission test results for the 2024-25 academic year. They also called for the abolition of what they called "irrational quotas," including the freedom fighter quota.

In Agargaon, members of the Automobile Workshop Owners Association formed a human chain in front of the National Board of Revenue, protesting a VAT hike from 10 percent to 15 percent. Chanting "We don't want VAT, we want a VAT-free life," their demonstration caused delays on one side of the road. Following the protest, the NBR reportedly agreed to withdraw the VAT increase.