The Islamic conference at Suhrawardy Udyan caused severe traffic congestion on most roads in the capital, Dhaka, on Tuesday.
Dhaka city dwellers suffered immensely throughout the day due to severe traffic congestions on almost all major roads in the capital.
The traffic congestion, which started in the morning, became more distinct as the day progressed. Office-bearers and school-college students were in extreme trouble to reach their destination due to huge traffic jams.
According to the traffic police, the traffic jam happened due to an Islamic conference at Suhrawardy Udyan. From early morning, traffic snarls were observed across Manik Mia Avenue, Bijoy Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Shahbagh, Science Lab, Nilkhet, Dhaka University area, Gulistan, Matsya Bhaban, and surrounding areas. In some spots, such as Shahbagh and Paltan, traffic came to a standstill, intensifying
gridlock throughout Dhaka. The congestion caused considerable distress, with many passengers exiting their vehicles to walk to their destinations.
To attend the conference, followers of Maulana Zubair Ul Hasan began gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan from Fajr prayers, filling the entire grounds and its surroundings.
Due to traffic congestion, many attendees were seen walking along footpaths and roads in groups, holding banners and placards. Private cars, microbuses, and large buses were also parked across Shahbagh and the Dhaka University area, further obstructing roadways.
The traffic situation around Dhaka University was particularly severe. Heavy congestion was reported on nearby roads from the early morning, with crowds of participants gathering around areas such as the Raju Sculpture and TSC.
Many students headed to classes found themselves trapped in traffic for extended periods, leading to class cancellations in some departments.
Farzana Rahman, who works for a private company in Tejgaon and resides in Dhanmondi 27, said it took her nearly 40 minutes to travel from Manik Mia Avenue to Farmgate—far longer than usual.
Sadman Hossain from Kalabagan, who left home at 6:30 am to reach his office by 7:00 am, was also caught in heavy congestion at Karwan Bazar. “I’ve never seen such traffic so early in the morning,” he added.
Shariful Islam, a resident of Kazipara, took his motorcycle from his home to Karwan Bazar but faced gridlock near Bijoy Sarani. “From Bijoy Sarani to Farmgate, the area was completely paralyzed,” he said.
Arman Hossain, traveling from Mirpur 10 to Gulistan, eventually abandoned his bus after waiting in traffic and began walking. “The vehicle was stuck—neither moving forward nor backwards,” he said, noting he exited at Shahbagh and would walk the rest of the way.
The metro rail also saw an increased passenger load, as many attendees used it to reach the gathering. Although MRT Pass and Rapid Pass holders faced fewer issues, long queues formed for single-journey tickets.
Traffic police struggled to manage the influx of vehicles, particularly at the Jatiya Press Club Road, Kakrail intersection, Bijoy Sarani, and Paltan.
Meanwhile, police set up barricades on routes leading through Shahbagh, Nilkhet, Dhaka Medical, Secretariat, and the areas in front of Dhaka University and Suhrawardy Udyan, directing vehicles to alternative routes.
A traffic sergeant on duty explained, “From early morning, worshippers began gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan for the Tablighi Jamaat conference, entering Dhaka in various vehicles, which led to traffic jams in several parts of the city.”
