Over the past nine months, more than 500 demonstrations have taken place in Dhaka. In just the last 10 days, over 50 protests have been staged across the capital, with several roads blocked.
Alongside these demonstrations, city residents have suffered through severe traffic jams caused by persistent rain. Currently, more than five different groups are occupying Dhaka’s streets, each with their own demands.
As a result, the national economy has come to a standstill.
Journeys that should take 30 minutes have stretched to three hours. Employees from government, private, and autonomous institutions have struggled to reach their offices on time, and many have faced delays returning home.
Under normal circumstances, Dhaka’s chronic traffic congestion wastes an estimated 8.2 million work hours daily, translating to a financial loss of about BDT 139 crore per day—or over BDT 50,000 crore annually. Economists suggest this loss has multiplied significantly over the past 10 days due to protest-related traffic jams.
Among the recent protests:
BNP leader Ishraq Hossain’s supporters held an eight-day street demonstration demanding his swearing-in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation; Jagannath University students blocked Kakrail intersection with three-point demands; Dismissed army personnel staged sit-ins at the National Press Club; The National Citizen Party (NCP) protested at the Election Commission headquarters for electoral reforms; Garment workers, demanding unpaid wages, marched toward the Chief Adviser’s residence but were blocked by police at Kakrail; Teachers and staff have held a 10-day sit-in at the Press Club calling for nationalization of their institutions; Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal staged several blockades at Shahbagh over the alleged negligence in investigating the killing of their leader Samya; Technical students also staged demonstrations with six demands.
Dhaka’s notorious traffic is a daily struggle. Now, the unrest has compounded this misery. Previously, protests were mostly centered around the National Press Club or Shahbagh, but they have now spread citywide.
Protesters are setting up camp wherever they like, listing long chains of demands. Since the July uprising and the subsequent formation of the new government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Dhaka’s streets have seen near-constant agitation.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), at least three protest events occur daily on average—more than 500 since the interim government took over.
From ordinary citizens to professionals, both public and private sector workers are participating, adding to the city's growing dysfunction. Security forces are overwhelmed, prompting experts to suggest allocating designated protest zones.
City dwellers now have to check which roads are blocked before leaving their homes. On Thursday morning, Ishraq supporters blocked roads near the City Corporation building, the High Court, Matsya Bhaban, and Kakrail.
From 10 AM to 5 PM, Chhatra Dal occupied Shahbagh and the Intercontinental Hotel area to protest investigative negligence in the Samya murder case.
Later that afternoon, the NCP marched in Jatrabari with electoral demands. A doctor from a major hospital posted on Facebook that morning: “There are four protests in four different areas today.
Avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.” Many commented below, sharing their own frustrations.
A City of Marches:
Once known as the city of mosques or rickshaws, Dhaka has now become the city of protests—especially since the fall of the Awami League government in August last year. It's a city of demands, of movements.
Protests in the Past 9 Months:
Since the interim government assumed office on August 8 last year, protests have erupted over issues such as:
Launching auto-rickshaws in Dhaka; Student demands for automatic promotions; Increased benefits for Ansar members; Reinstatement of dismissed army and police personnel; Release and compensation for imprisoned BDR members; Appointment of deprived BCS candidates; Separation of seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University; Nationalization of Ebtedayi teachers; Recruitment of recommended candidates for primary schools.
Other movements have included polytechnic students’ roadblocks, intern doctors demanding stipend increases, and protests by railway employees. Workers from institutions like Bangladesh Betar, BTV, WASA, DESA, and the Secretariat have also taken to the streets, mainly over promotion denials and lack of job permanency. Minority groups have demanded constitutional recognition as "Adivasi" (indigenous people).
Meanwhile, the NCP's call for banning Awami League politics was followed by nursing students demanding that their diploma courses be recognized as equivalent to bachelor's degrees. Jagannath University students blocked roads again over housing allowances.
On May 18 alone, eight major protests took place in Dhaka, pushing the city to a breaking point. That day, dismissed army members staged a sit-in at the Press Club, while Ishraq supporters protested for the fourth consecutive day.
Demonstrators also spread from the Secretariat to Nagar Bhaban. The next day, a blockade was held with the same demands. Even after the High Court ruled there was no barrier to swearing in Ishraq, his supporters continued protests in Kakrail and Matsya Bhaban. Chhatra Dal laid siege to Shahbagh Police Station and blocked intersections over Samya's death.
On the same day, workers threatened nationwide shutdowns if back wages and Eid bonuses were not paid. Stock market investors protested wearing burial shrouds against falling share prices. Polytechnic students protested near the High Court shrine gate.
Five Reasons Behind the Unrest:
Experts identify five key reasons behind the surge in protests:
A belief that since a major uprising overthrew the powerful Awami League, now is the ideal time to press demands; Previously, anti-government protests were crushed harshly, but the current perception is that repression will be less severe; Early on, security forces did not clamp down strongly, encouraging more protests; Many grievances—especially among teachers and workers—have long been unresolved; Politically motivated actors and even pro-government groups may be fueling unrest to crowd out anti-government voices.
Impact of the Protests:
Protests typically involve marches, sit-ins, and blockades. When key intersections are shut down, massive traffic jams ripple through surrounding roads, alleys, and eventually the entire city. Everyone tries to find alternate routes, causing gridlock.
Journeys take hours instead of minutes, and workers can’t reach their offices or homes on time. For instance, Shahbagh—home to the country’s only medical university and the BIRDEM hospital—suffers heavily during protests.
Thousands seek treatment there daily. When roads are blocked, patients and their families suffer the most. Even doctors and hospital staff are often late, disrupting care.
Protests also take a toll on mental health. The disruption of daily routines increases stress and short tempers. The physical and psychological effects linger.
City residents believe that many who were silent over the past 16 years are now acting with reckless urgency to secure their interests under the new government.
Meanwhile, the government's leniency or quick response to certain protest groups has emboldened others.
Former World Bank Dhaka Chief Economist Dr. Zahid Hussain noted that such protests directly harm the economy: “Business suffers. I can’t complete my work on time. People leave home with uncertainty. A rickshaw puller waiting four hours for a customer can’t charge quadruple fare. The passenger will say: if I didn’t reach my destination, why should I pay? People’s income, expenses, and time are all disrupted.”
He warned of even bigger dangers: “Investors make decisions based on the future. But if unrest continues, they’ll adopt a wait-and-see approach or look elsewhere. Lost opportunities today—or next year—won’t come back”.