Thousands of commuters suffered long delays on Tuesday as they had to endure gridlocks on different roads in the capital due to a grand rally of the ruling Awami League at Suhrawardy Udyan.

The roads leading to the meeting venue were choked with processions by activists of AL and its associate organisations. The party organised the rally to mark the Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Apart from that, the traffic department of police also closed traffic on several roads forcing many commuters to walk to their destinations while the number of passenger buses was also poor on the day.

The commuters were helpless in reaching their destinations on time as traffic deadlocks appeared and lasted for several hours at different points of the capital since 1:00pm to night.

Habibur Rahman, a private jobholder who was waiting at Kakrail intersection for a bus, said, “I have been waiting for a bus more than one hour, but have not been able to get one.”

This has become a regular sight for city dwellers on a day when any big political programme is held at Suhrawardy Udyan, he added.

Traffic police closed several roads near the venue of the rally, including Press Club to Paltan, Kakrail to Matshya Bhaban, Sonargaon to Shahbagh, Elephant Road to Shahbagh and Doyel Chattar to Shahbagh which forced many commuters to go their destinations by walking.

The traffic jam was severe on different roads, including Sadarghat to Gulistan, Motijheel to Paltan, Asad Gate to Elephant Road, Farmgate to Bijoy Sarani, Moghbazar to Kakrail intersection. The halt in vehicular movement ultimately affected the traffic in other parts of the capital.

However, police were seen struggling to manage traffic throughout the day. A Traffic constable at Kakrail intersection said, “The gridlocks become severe after 1:00pm. Its effect would continue until midnight.”