Md. was lying on the seat of the ambulance and was complaining of illness. Abul Kashem (70). The ambulance was blaring its siren for a long time. But the cars stuck in traffic could not move in any direction. Not only the ambulance carrying Abul Kashem, but at least 10 such ambulances were also stuck in the traffic jam. Patients were sweltering in the heat in every ambulance. On the other hand, many passengers got bored while sitting in the car in heavy traffic and started walking on the way to their destination. Many women and children were sitting inside the car in the hot sun.
The Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Chittagong’s Sitakunda Upazila was blocked at around 12 noon on Tuesday, causing a severe traffic jam for about five hours. The traffic jam was created across the 20 km road when the residents of Jangal Salimpur village of Salimpur union of Sitakunda blocked the highway demanding electricity connection. Around 5:30 pm, the police chased the protesters off the highway by firing tear gas shells. Then the traffic started. However, it was informed by the police that it will take some time for the traffic to be normal after the long jam.
Talking to the police and local people, it is known that the settlement has been built in the village of Jangal Salimpur after illegally cutting the government hill and occupying it. A month ago, the district administration disconnected the electricity connection in Alinagar area of the village. Apart from Alinagar, electricity supply was also limited in other areas of the village. Because of this, the residents of the area blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
After blocking the road for the whole day, the police chased the blockaders around 5:30 in the afternoon. At that time, the besiegers started throwing bricks at the police. They vandalized the traffic police box on Faujdarhat port link road. They vandalized at least five cars on the highway. The police then fired tear gas shells at the protesters and they retreated from the highway. The police retreated through the Faujdarhat-Bayezid link road and pushed the besiegers into the jungle of Salimpur village.
Ambulance patient Abul Kashem stuck in traffic jam at Chandraganj area of Lakshmipur district. He is suffering from heart disease and cancer. The ambulance carrying him was stuck on the highway for about 3 and a half hours from 12:30 noon today. His daughter Shilpi Aktar told Prothom Alo, ‘Father’s condition is very bad. He was under treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital for a month. Doctors asked to take him home as his condition worsened. He is having a lot of trouble getting stuck in traffic.
Madrasa teacher Abdul Mannan of Narsingdi got stuck in the traffic jam when he arrived at Tobacco Gate area of Sitakunda by unique transport from Dhaka. He told Prothom Alo that he was sitting on the bus for an hour after getting stuck in the traffic around 12:30 in the afternoon. After coming out in the unbearable heat, he sat in the shade of a tree for half an hour on the road. Later, he left for Bahaddarhat in Chittagong city on foot without getting out of the traffic jam.
Aleya Begum (45) was going to Chittagong from Noakhali by Bandhan Paribahan. His daughter Lipi Akhter (22) was with him. Around 2:30 in the afternoon Aleya Begum told Prothom Alo, “I have become exhausted from sitting for a long time in the heat.” Unable to stand it, I left on foot.
Mohammad Rafiq was sitting on the road divider after getting off the bus. He told Prothom Alo that he was sitting in the bus with six family members including two children. There are three pieces of luggage. Walking with luggage and children is absolutely not possible. The children were crying for food. But there are no shops around. He was waiting for the traffic jam to clear.