Public transport in Dhaka was significantly reduced on Monday amid a nationwide shutdown called by the banned Awami League ahead of the verdict in a crimes against humanity case against three people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
A visit between 8:30am and 9:30am found the capital’s major roads unusually empty.
Buses were few, and most of those operating were carrying very few passengers. Ride-sharing vehicles were also limited, though the movement of private cars and CNG-run auto-rickshaws was comparatively more visible.
At around 9:15am, fewer buses were seen in Shahbagh, Katabon, Matsya Bhaban and Bangla Motor areas, with most seats empty. A similar situation was reported in Shantinagar.
No public transport was spotted in the Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Manipuripara, Karwan Bazar and Dhanmondi areas around 9am.
Overall traffic — public and private — remained well below normal levels.
However, bus movement in Old Dhaka’s Roy Saheb Bazar area appeared normal around 8:30am but began to decrease as the morning progressed, with passenger numbers also visibly low.
Moktar Hossain, waiting for a bus in Shahbagh, said: “The roads are empty today, and the buses on the road are also running empty. People did not step out unnecessarily because of the Awami League’s shutdown call. No one knows when something might happen. Those of us with office duty had no choice but to come out.”
A passenger travelling by Savar Paribahan from Gulistan said: “On other days, it’s hard to find a seat. Today, half the buses are empty.”
Although the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation earlier announced that public transport would continue operating to keep daily life normal, the decision appeared poorly implemented on the ground.
A bus owners’ association leader, requesting anonymity, said many workers chose not to drive due to safety concerns.
“Last Thursday, around 20 vehicles were set on fire across the country during the Awami League’s shutdown. One of our drivers, Julhas, was killed when a bus was torched in Mymensingh. Many workers do not want to take that risk,” he said.
He added that bus owners, too, were wary: “On a normal day, I have 20–22 buses on the road. Today, only nine are running. The authorities say they will compensate for damages, but in reality, it doesn’t always happen. So, we can’t take extra risks.”
