DHAKA, November 1, 2026: A road blockade by garment workers in Mirpur triggered severe traffic congestion across Dhaka on Sunday, causing widespread disruption for commuters on the first working day of the week.
Workers occupied major roads in Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11 and Mirpur-12, bringing traffic to a standstill and leavig thousands of commuters struggling to reach their workplaces and other destinations.
The blockade effectively halted vehicular movement along key routes connecting Gabtoli, Mirpur, Agargaon, Mohakhali, Kalshi and the airport. Buses and other vehicles operating on these routes were unable to move, forcing passengers to seek alternative transport.
The disruption also triggered heavy congestion in Farmgate, Shahbagh, Science Laboratory and Karwan Bazar as vehicles diverted to alternative roads.
Many commuters were forced to abandon buses and walk through blocked sections before taking auto-rickshaws or other available transport. Others turned to the metro rail, resulting in severe overcrowding at stations and inside trains.
Yusuf Ahmed, a resident of Mirpur-11, said he had initially left home by car for an urgent task in Tejgaon but returned after encountering the blockade. He later travelled by metro rail to Farmgate before continuing to Tejgaon.
He said the metro rail was also overcrowded as many passengers who would normally travel by road switched to the service.
Another commuter, identified as Imon, said he could not reach Mirpur-10 or Mirpur-11 because of the blockade and had to take the Kalshi Road route. His motorcycle was stopped several times along the way, although he managed to proceed after requesting permission.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Tejgaon Division, Rafiqul Islam, said the closure of the Mirpur-10 corridor had pushed a large volume of vehicles onto alternative roads, increasing congestion across the area.
He said traffic police were working to maintain order despite the surge in vehicles.
Garment workers have been staging demonstrations and blocking roads for several days, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. They continued their protest in Mirpur-10 on Sunday, repeating a blockade carried out on Saturday.
The latest disruption has once again highlighted the wider impact of prolonged road blockades on the capital’s already strained transport system, affecting commuters far beyond the immediate protest area.
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