The funeral prayers for former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be held after Zuhr on Wednesday in the capital’s Manik Miah Avenue. On this occasion, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced traffic guidelines and special instructions on various roads in Dhaka.
Given the likelihood of a large public gathering for the funeral, DMP on Tuesday issued a special public notification to ensure smooth traffic management and security.
The notification, signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali, requested maximum cooperation from city dwellers. Diversions will be in effect in the designated areas from 7am until the conclusion of the funeral prayers.
In terms of traffic restrictions, the exit ramp of the Elevated Expressway at Indira Road will be closed, with the public advised to use the FDC ramp instead.
Traffic from the Sonargaon intersection towards Farmgate or Bijoy Sarani will be restricted, and the public is requested to avoid Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue as much as possible.
There will be limited vehicle movement from the Principal Adviser’s Office crossing to the south towards Bijoy Sarani and Farmgate.
Vehicles travelling from Banani-Mohakhali-Gulshan or Airport Road to Ramna, Shahbagh, Motijheel, Paltan, and Gulistan are requested to avoid the Mohakhali-Jahangir Gate-Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue road and instead use the road in front of the Mohakhali Bus Terminal and the Moghbazar Flyover.
Vehicles from the Mirpur area to Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur are requested to avoid Manik Miah Avenue and its surrounding areas and instead travel via the Mirpur-Technical-Shyamoli Ring Road.
Vehicles from the Mirpur area to Ramna and Motijheel will take a left turn from Shyamoli on Mirpur Road, proceed via Agargaon Crossing, then via Fakhruddin Road and Link Road to Jahangir Gate, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, and the Moghbazar Flyover.
Vehicle movement from the Panthapath Crossing towards the Sonargaon Hotel Crossing will be restricted.
There will be traffic diversions from Dhanmondi 32 Crossing and, if necessary, from Science Lab Crossing. There will also be limited vehicle movement from the Principal Adviser’s Office crossing heading south.
To keep the funeral venue clear, traffic will be halted at several key crossings.
These include the Farmgate Police Box Crossing, Farmgate Indira Road Crossing, Bijoy Sarani Crossing, Urojahaj Crossing, Asad Gate Crossing, Rapa Plaza Crossing, and Ganabhaban Crossing.
In effect, the roads from Rapa Plaza to Ganabhaban Crossing, from Farmgate to the west side of Manik Miah Avenue and Aarong, from Bijoy Sarani Crossing via Lake Road to Ganabhaban Crossing, and from Urojahaj Crossing via Khejurbagan Crossing to Farmgate Police Box will be closed.
For parking, vehicles from within Dhaka metropolis should be parked at the Old Trade Fair Ground.
Buses and other vehicles arriving from outside Dhaka should be parked in designated areas – the Motijheel Commercial Area, the Shahbagh Police Station area, the Boubazar and Gorur Hat area in Sector 17 of Uttara, and the 300-foot Service Road of the Purbachal Expressway.
