Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced traffic restrictions in the capital’s Shahbagh, Central Shaheed Minar and Suhrawardy Udyan areas from Sunday morning to evening due to multiple political and cultural events that are expected to draw large crowds.
According to a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjad Ali, the movement of vehicles through Shahbagh intersection will be restricted to prevent congestion and ease public inconvenience, especially as the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations are also scheduled for the day.
The notice cited three major events likely to affect traffic: a student rally by Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Shahbagh, a public gathering by the National Citizen Party (NCP) at the Central Shaheed Minar demanding the ‘July Declaration and Charter’, and a cultural event titled July Jagoron hosted by Saimum Shilpigoshthi at Suhrawardy Udyan.
JCD is set to hold its ‘student rally’ from 2:00pm to 6:00pm marking the first anniversary of the July-August uprising. The NCP gathering, initially scheduled for 3:00pm, has been delayed to 4:00pm to accommodate HSC examinees. The July Jagoron event has been ongoing since 1 August and will continue daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm until 4 August.
DMP has issued a detailed traffic diversion plan urging commuters to avoid Shahbagh and surrounding areas and use alternative routes.
Diversion points and alternative routes
Hotel Intercontinental Intersection: Northbound vehicles approaching via Sonargaon Signal or Banglamotor Crossing should turn left at Hotel Intercontinental and proceed via Hare Road or Mintu Road, avoiding Shahbagh.
Katabon Intersection: Westbound vehicles coming from Science Lab Crossing should turn right at Katabon towards Nilkhet/Palashi or turn left towards Sonargaon (Hatirpool) Road and use the Banglamotor link road.
Matsya Bhaban Intersection: Vehicles coming via High Court or Kadam Foara Crossing should continue straight via Hare Road or Shaheed Captain Mansur Ali Sarani (Moghbazar Road), bypassing Shahbagh.
Kakrail Mosque Crossing: Vehicles from the north via Kakrail Mosque should continue straight past Matsya Bhaban towards the High Court and Gulistan or Dhaka University, avoiding Shahbagh.
TSC/Raju Sculpture: Vehicles from Nilkhet Crossing or Doel Chattar Crossing should detour via Doel Chattar or Nilkhet instead of heading towards Shahbagh.
Police have also advised avoiding roads adjacent to the Shaheed Minar and entry points to Suhrawardy Udyan wherever possible.
The public notice urged Dhaka residents—especially HSC and Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) candidates—to leave early for their examination centres to avoid delays due to the expected traffic congestion.