Roadblocks in Dhaka: Is this the new normal?

Dhaka's roads have become a battleground, with protests disrupting daily life at an alarming frequency. 

Commuters in Dhaka faced yet another day of chaos as battery-run rickshaw drivers staged protests across the city this morning (21 November), blocking key intersections and paralysing traffic. 

With roads choked and tempers flaring, residents are left questioning if such disruptions have become a daily ordeal.  

While on my way to the metro station in Mirpur 11, I witnessed firsthand the chaos unfolding. 

Rickshaw drivers, protesting the ban on battery-operated vehicles, were forcibly stopping their counterparts, cutting wires, and shattering windshields. 

My rickshaw was intercepted too, forcing me to walk the rest of the way. 

Along the way, I noticed a battery-run rickshaw carrying four or five schoolgirls in uniform. Protesters shattered its windshield, injuring one of the girls. I helped them to safety in a nearby shop but couldn't document the incident as the mob refused to let me take pictures.

When I questioned another rickshaw driver who had also been stopped, he said, "If I don't join them, I'll be attacked too. I have no choice." 

Meanwhile, a few drivers still trying to work attempted to resist but were overpowered and were either forced to join the protests were forced off the roads.

The violence wasn't limited to Mirpur only. Key areas such as Mohakhali, Agargaon, Gabtoli, and Kalyanpur saw major disruptions as rickshaw drivers blocked roads, leaving vehicles stranded. 

Three days ago, students of Titumir College protested for turning their college into a university, blocking key roads like Mohakhali. 

Just yesterday, clashes between the students of Dhaka College and Dhaka City College obstructed commuters at Science Lab. 

The repeated roadblocks have left residents questioning whether these disruptions are becoming an unavoidable part of life in Dhaka. For commuters, especially students and office-goers, the uncertainty of reaching their destinations has added to the city's transportation woes.

Whether it's protests over turning college into university or disputes over vehicle bans, Dhaka's roads seem perpetually clogged by demonstrations, leaving commuters to bear the brunt of the disruptions.

These roadblocks are more than just an inconvenience—they are a growing threat to daily life. 

As I walked through the chaos, I couldn't help but wonder – has this become our new normal?