Nomination seekers going to Awami League Dhanmondi party office with huge processions in a show of strength (L). At Naya Paltan, the nomination seekers of BNP also thronged yesterday creating tailbacks (R). -Jahidul Islam
Huge processions of supporters of aspirants seeking tickets of the big two political parties for the December elections have triggered sufferings for the citizens of the capital. Traffic congestions began at Dhanmondi after the Awami League began selling nomination forms at its chief's political office on Friday. Tailbacks started around the BNP headquarters at Naya Paltan on Monday after the party began distributing the forms. At Dhanmondi, more than 3,000 people bought the Awami League's nomination forms for the 300 seats in the first three days.
Most of the nomination seekers are going to the office with huge processions, including in motorbikes and cars, in a show of strength. Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Arif Khan Joy, who was elected from Netrakona 3, went to collect the nomination form at 1pm on Monday. Besides motorcycles and cars, he had buses, pickups and trucks in his convoy. All the vehicles heading from Mohammadpur to Jigatala were slowed down by processions of the deputy minister's supporters. Other aspirants also brought similar processions.
Vehicles have to stop for long on one lane of the street no. 3 at Dhanmondi, on which the Awami League office is situated, due to the gatherings of the supporters of the aspirants. The parked cars of the aspirants and their supporters have narrowed down the space for other vehicles to move on the street. Students of the schools in the area suffered greatly. Their guardians had to face hassles to get their children or take them to the schools. Hasibur Rahman Manik, who wants to run for Dhaka 7 with the Awami League's boat logo, went to submit his nomination form around 2:15pm. His convoy stopped traffic on both lanes of the Mirpur Road from Elephant Road to Jigatala via Science Laboratory intersection for hours.
Traffic police struggled to contain the jam at the time. "The traffic jams started on Friday. The bigger the procession, the worse the traffic gridlock. The situation is better today," a traffic sergeant said. At Naya Paltan, the BNP is selling the forms on Monday and Tuesday. The aspirants and their supporters thronged the area when the sale began on Monday morning. They parked their cars on the Inner Circular Road, creating tailbacks in the area.
The situation improved when police blocked a lane and diverted the vehicles to the other. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) SM Murad Ali said they were "managing" the problem after pressure of traffic increased in the two areas. "A little bit of problem occurs when pressure is concentrated at one place. We are managing this with diversions," he said.
--- bdnews24.com
Latest News