People of different classes and professions are on the streets with demands, the city dwellers are suffering

People of different classes and professions have taken a position on several roads of the capital with various demands to the interim government. Due to this, the city dwellers have suffered severely in this city due to traffic congestion.

On Sunday (August 18) Dhaka's National Press Club, Kakrail, Science Lab, New Market, Ramna, Karwan Bazar, Banglamotor, Uttara and some other places were seen holding sit-ins, human chain and blockade programs for these demands.

The traffic police say that the number of vehicles on the road has increased due to the opening of educational institutions after a long time. As a result, the traffic in various parts of the capital is a little slower than normal. Apart from this, the main reason for traffic congestion is that around 16-17 organizations are making human chains in different roads of the capital.

Some of them have come up with demands to remove salary disparity, nationalization of some jobs, some have come against corruption, and some have demanded examination cancellation. Besides, some have come with the demand of trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, the presence of police was not seen anywhere around these programs.

After the formation of the interim government, all the educational institutions have been opened today (Sunday) with the operation of office-courts in Dhaka after the weekend. As a result, vehicles and public transport have increased on the roads of Dhaka, along with traffic congestion. Common people have suffered endlessly. Meanwhile, in front of the National Press Club in the morning, the members of the village police blocked the road and demanded freedom from salary discrimination and nationalization of jobs and ration and pension benefits like policemen. After the formation of the interim government on August 8, the movement started under the banner of Village Police Coordination Committee from August 14.

The protestors who took part in the program under the banner of 'Village Police Coordination Committee Against Salary Discrimination' circled several roads and took a position in the afternoon at the junction in front of the residence of the Chief Justice of Kakrail. A few policemen were there but they retreated when they saw the besiegers. All together, the roads around Paltan, Shantinagar and Raman Park around Kakrail caused severe traffic jams.

Besides, the students of Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) formed a human chain against corruption and discrimination in front of the National Press Club. Bangladesh Family Planning Voluntary (Women) Demand Implementation Council is stationed on the same road for job stabilization.

Besides, Bangladesh Independent Ibtedayi Madrasa Teachers Association has formed a human chain to demand the prevention of discrimination in the Madrasa Board. Besides, an organization called Trinamool Nagrik Andolan is holding a rally demanding justice for Sheikh Hasina and her government officials. And standing on the way from the press club to the Shiksha Bhawan, 'ordinary' diploma students formed a human chain demanding various reforms.

Besides, not getting a place in front of the press club, a group of members dismissed from the then BDR took a stand in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They want to submit a memorandum to the Home Affairs Adviser demanding reinstatement.

Meanwhile, a group of students blocked the road around 3 pm demanding the cancellation of the HSC examination at Sciencelab intersection. Besides, the students of Home Economics College blocked the road in front of the New Market demanding the assurance of seats in the hall. Due to these two programs of ScienceLab and New Market, the road from Shahbagh to Dhanmondi was stopped for several hours.

On the other hand, the women of the 'Tathya Apa' project blocked the road in front of the office of the Chief Adviser to the Interim Government in Ramna Jamuna Guest House. They demanded the transfer of the project to the revenue sector along with the second phase of the project. Besides, in the morning, people were seen standing with banners in front of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority at Banglamotor and in front of the Directorate of Family Planning at Karwan Bazar. Due to all these programs on Ramna, Banglamotor and Kakrail roads, the capital suffered from traffic jams on all roads including Farmgate, Moghbazar and Panthpath.

Besides, the students of Ekramunnesa High School protested by blocking the busy road in front of Bangladesh Television in Rampura. When they took to the streets demanding the resignation of the headmaster, the wheels of vehicles stopped on the road from Rampura to Badda in the north and Malibagh-Mouchak in the south.

On the other hand, the students blocked the road in front of the BNS center in Uttara demanding the cancellation of the HSC examination. Students from several colleges in the area participated in it. As a result, the passengers also suffered on the Uttara road.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Traffic Ramana Division in the capital to collect various demands. Sohail Rana said, since all the schools and colleges were opened from today (Sunday), the pressure on the road was already high. All in all, unbearable traffic jams have been created on the roads, the roads have slowed down in some places. But we are trying our best to normalize the traffic jam. Roads which are closed, have been diverted to other roads to keep the traffic moving.

Bangladesh /KH