PM brings woes for commuters on two highways

With no previous announcement on a prime ministerial visit and alternative route suggestions, thousands of people, especially those headed towards schools and workplaces, suddenly found themselves stuck for hours in traffic along the Dhaka-Kashimpur route yesterday.

Sheikh Hasina went to inaugurate the academic activities at Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Memorial KPJ Nursing College in Tetoibari via Gabtoli, Aminbazar, Hemayetpur, Savar, Nabinagar and Baipail.

The Daily Star found her crossing the Savar bus stand around 9:30am. Traffic in the roads was halted an hour ago while hundreds of law enforcers stood alert as part of the security arrangements.

The scenario was the same at the Nabinagar bus stand, which she passed on her way back around 12:45pm.

In the meantime, a small number of vehicles in phases were allowed on the Dhaka-Aricha and Tangail highways but were told they had to keep moving and could not stop even if they had to fill up.

The morning rush worsened the situation as people sat sweating in the sweltering heat in stuffy passenger vehicles.

Most passenger, especially garment workers and mid-level officers residing near their workplaces in Ashulia, Savar, Tongi and Mirpur areas, housing the country's 60 percent garment factories, resorted to get down and reach their destinations on foot.

Sexagenarian Awlad Hossen was not that lucky. Unable to walk long distances, he was found fanning himself inside a bus with its engines turned off at Nabinagar around noon.

A passenger on a Dhamrai-Gulistan bus quipped that such persons should have some compassion on ordinary folks and take to the skies instead of keeping people from their work.

A stop to vehicles for any reason in the morning results in massive traffic jams in the areas, said a worker, asking not to be named, adding, "We will be a little delayed joining our workplaces for the traffic jam."

Forhad Hosen, traffic inspector of police, Savar said traffic was "under control from morning to 1:30pm" which caused the traffic jams on the highways.

Savar lawmaker Enamur Rahman claimed people "accepted the pain with a smile for their leader".