Thousands of commuters faced severe hardship and disruption on Monday morning as drivers of battery-run rickshaws staged a major road blockade in downtown Dhaka, bringing traffic to a complete standstill and forcing stranded citizens onto the streets in search of transport.
The blockade, staged outside the National Press Club, turned the vital Paltan-Press Club corridor into a transport dead zone shortly after 10:30am.
Drivers gathered to protest against alleged police harassment, confiscations, and the disconnection of electricity supplies at charging stations.
However, the sudden demonstration left ordinary citizens bearing the immediate brunt of the standoff.
For office workers, students, and patients trying to navigate the city during peak hours, the blockade triggered immediate disruption.
With battery-operated rickshaws abruptly pulled off the roads and ride-sharing services overwhelmed by soaring surge pricing, countless commuters found themselves stranded with no viable way to reach their destinations.
The situation proved particularly distressing for those making short-distance trips or traveling to areas poorly served by public buses.
Commuters carrying heavy luggage, elderly citizens, and parents with young children struggled to navigate the chaotic streets, as gridlock quickly spilled over into adjacent thoroughfares and choked surrounding traffic networks.
Shahed Alam, a private-sector employee traveling from Moghbazar, described the ordeal after finding no transport available when leaving for work. “Hundreds of people who knew nothing about the protest beforehand were suddenly caught off guard and stranded looking for transport. I had no choice but to walk for over 40 minutes just to reach my office in Karwan Bazar,” he said.
Tensions flared further on the streets as protesting drivers began strictly enforcing their strike. Groups of demonstrators were seen stopping fellow rickshaw operators who attempted to carry passengers, forcibly disconnecting their battery cables and stranding riders mid-journey.
Some demonstrators were also seen vandalising running buses at Kakrail area.
To prevent the situation from escalating, police units were deployed on high alert across the area.
Demonstrators chanted slogans demanding an end to arbitrary fines and calling for the restoration of power to their charging hubs, insisting they had been driven to extreme measures after losing their primary source of income.
The drivers eventually held a procession before calling off their demonstration at around 12:30pm, allowing vehicles from the Paltan intersection to the Press Club to slowly resume movement.
Although traffic flow gradually returned to normal by early afternoon, the sudden two-hour shutdown laid bare the extreme vulnerability of Dhaka’s daily commuters.
The incident highlighted how urban transport disputes and unregulated street blockades continue to cause severe public misery across the capital, leaving everyday citizens hostage to sudden gridlock.
