Anti-quota protests worsen traffic woes for air passengers in Dhaka

Bangladesh-wide protests against the quota system in government job recruitment have caused trouble for air passengers trying to board their flights on time.

Since Wednesday morning, many people have taken to Facebook to ask for traffic updates on the roads leading to Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Some had even moved to areas closer to the airport earlier to avert the traffic.

Pappu Aich, a Facebook user, asked for traffic updates along the airport route from Dhanmondi to catch an 8:30pm flight.

Several users commented on Pappu’s post on the Traffic Alert Facebook group, asking him to hop on the Metrorail from Farmgate and take a rickshaw to the airport via Uttara’s Diabari.

Others suggested he take the flyover to the airport via Mirpur’s Kalshi. Some even asked him to head to Gabtoli and take the Airport Road via Uttara’s Diabari.

Another member of the Traffic Alert group, Anisur Rahman Raihan, wrote that he was staying at a relative’s house in Uttara to board his flight on Wednesday evening.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Iftekhairul Islam took to Facebook to express the plight of an air passenger saying: “….who has come all the way from his village has to board a flight this afternoon. He just reached Rajarbagh after walking from Gulistan. Just explain to him how he will walk to the airport.”

Executive Director of Shahjalal International Airport Group Captain Kamrul Islam said, “We are liaising with the Dhaka Metropolitan North Traffic Department and the airlines in the wake of the blockade. We are hoping the issue will be settled.”

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Traffic Division Chief, Additional Commissioner Monibur Rahman, no air passengers have contacted the department so far with complaints of traffic on the roads leading to the airport.

“We are trying to keep alternate routes open to the public in places where there are blockades,” he added.

On Wednesday, protestors blocked Mohakhali’s Amtali intersection, causing severe traffic congestion on the road leading to the airport.

According to ADC SM Hafizur Rahman, the traffic returned to normal after the protestors left the site around 3pm.

“The traffic congestion is moderate from Mohakhali to the airport. However, there is a lot of traffic on the road to Mohakhali from the airport.”