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Published : 05 May 2025, 08:28 PM
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will impose traffic restrictions on Airport Road from Tuesday morning to noon to manage crowds during the return of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Authorities have urged commuters to avoid the Gulshan/Banani–Uttara stretch and instead use alternative routes.
BNP leaders and supporters have been instructed to stay on footpaths and avoid blocking roads.
The party has also been asked to deploy volunteers to help maintain order.
Autorickshaws and motorcycles will be allowed on the Elevated Expressway during the curbs while light vehicles will be permitted on the road through Dhaka Cantonment.
Authorities shared these traffic management details in a public notice issued on Monday, seeking cooperation from all city dwellers.
Khaleda is returning from London aboard a special air ambulance arranged by the Qatari emir, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, Tarique Rahman’s wife Zubaida Rahman and late Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Syeda Sharmila Rahman.
The air ambulance is scheduled to depart Heathrow Airport at 4:10pm local time on Monday and reach Doha’s Hamad International Airport at 1:25am local time.
After a short stopover, it will depart again at 2:30am and arrive at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport at 10:30am on Tuesday, Bangladesh time.
According to the DMP, large crowds are expected when the former prime minister arrives.
She will travel from the airport to her residence in Gulshan.
TRAFFIC GUIDELINES
The DMP has requested all commuters to avoid the Airport Road from Gulshan/Banani to Uttara between morning and noon, and to use the following alternative routes:
>> Travel via Abdullahpur–Kamarpara–Dhour Bridge–Panchabati–Mirpur embankment to reach Gabtoli.
>> Use the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
>> Residents of Uttara and Mirpur are advised to avoid Airport Road and instead travel via House Building–Zamzam Tower–Sector 12 canal area–Uttara North Metro Station–Uttara Centre Station–Mirpur DOHS, or take the Panchabati–Sector 18–Mirpur embankment route.
>> Travellers from Gulshan, Badda and Pragati Sarani can use the Police Plaza–Amtoli–Mohakhali route via Gulshan-1, then take the ramp near the Mohakhali Bus Terminal to access the Elevated Expressway towards Airport/Uttara.
>> Northbound inter-district buses from Mohakhali Bus Terminal to Mymensingh or Tangail can use the Mirpur–Gabtoli route.
>> Vehicles heading towards Airport or 300 Feet Road via the expressway should use the Mohakhali or FDC ramps instead of the Banani/Kakoli ramps.
>> From 8:00am to 2:00pm, only light vehicles may pass through the Cantonment roads (Zia Colony, Jahangir Gate, Sainik Club, Staff Road).
>> Autorickshaws and motorcycles may use the left-side safe lane of the Elevated Expressway between 7am and 1pm, subject to toll payment and a maximum speed limit of 40kph. Traffic police will be deployed to prevent speeding and lane violations.
>> To reduce congestion, the DMP has coordinated with Bangladesh Railway to add a special shuttle train on the Kamalapur–Tongi route from morning to noon. All intercity trains will stop for two minutes at Tongi, Airport and Tejgaon stations to help ease passenger movement.
>> Hajj pilgrims and outbound passengers, as well as SSC examinees in the area, must leave home with sufficient time to reach their destinations.
>> Metro rail has been recommended as an alternative for residents of Mirpur and Uttara.
The DMP also issued several instructions for those welcoming Khaleda:
>> No bags, sticks or similar items should be carried.
>> No one is allowed to join the motorcade.
>> Motorcycles are not permitted on the Gulshan/Banani–Airport stretch if there is a crowd; otherwise, limited movement may be allowed alongside regular traffic.
