Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued special traffic instructions in the capital on Thursday amid fears of traffic congestion in the wake of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s return to the country. The DMP has requested city residents to avoid specific roads and use alternative routes.
DMP’s Media and Public Relations Department Deputy Police Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman said in a public notice on Wednesday that Tarique Rahman will arrive in Dhaka at 11:55 am on Thursday and will travel from the airport to his residence in Gulshan via Purbachal Expressway (300 feet), Evercare Hospital. There will be additional crowds on the relevant roads at that time.
To ensure smooth traffic movement and safety, it has been advised to avoid the Purbachal Expressway in the Mohakhali-Abdullahpur and Kuril-Mastul sections from 4 am to 10 pm and use alternative roads. Separate alternative routes have been determined for passengers in Uttara, Mirpur, Gulshan, Badda and Pragati Sarani areas. It has also been advised to use the Metrorail and Dhaka-Joydevpur railway line if necessary.
The DMP also said that the greeters will not be able to join the procession with any vehicles and will be prohibited from carrying bags, sticks or motorcycles. Emergency service vehicles will be exempted from this directive. Passengers going abroad have been requested to leave with sufficient time.
Several specific places have been designated for parking the vehicles of leaders and activists, including the Bishwa Ijtema Ground in Tongi, the Trade Fair Area in Purbachal, the Diabari Livestock Market Ground, the Old Trade Fair Ground in Agargaon, and the Motijheel Commercial Area.
The DMP said that the cooperation of the city residents is the main condition for maintaining order and security on this day.