Dhaka, December 29: Postgraduate trainee doctors staged a protest at Shahbagh intersection from 11:00 AM, demanding an increase in their salaries and allowances. The demonstration caused a five-hour-long blockade at one of Dhaka's busiest junctions, leading to severe traffic congestion and widespread public inconvenience.

Shahbagh, home to three of the nation’s leading hospitals and a critical point connecting major areas of the capital, has become a focal point for demonstrations in recent years. The ongoing blockade disrupted daily life, affecting patients, commuters, and local businesses.

Arif Hossain, a passenger in an ambulance heading to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, recounted his ordeal. “I have a stroke patient in the ambulance. We started from Demra, but near the Intercontinental Hotel, the police informed us that the road was closed. After waiting, they let us pass, but we couldn’t get through Shahbagh. We were advised to take an alternative route,” he said, reflecting the challenges faced by many during the protest.

Ordinary pedestrians also expressed their frustration. Arafat Hossain, attempting to reach Gulistan from Mohammadpur, lamented, “I boarded a bus, but upon arriving here, I found the road closed. Protests occur here almost every other day. The doctors protested here before, and their allowances were reportedly increased. Yet, here we are again.”

Public transport operators bore the brunt of the disruption as well. Raju Mia, a driver for Rajanigandha Paribahan, said, “Passengers left the bus when they saw the road was closed. But we have no way to move. I’ve been stuck here with my bus since morning. Only Allah knows how much longer this will last.”

Earlier in the day, the protesting postgraduate trainee doctors had gathered at the Bot Tala area of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, demanding a monthly allowance of Tk 50,000. By late morning, they moved their demonstration to Shahbagh, effectively paralyzing one of Dhaka's key thoroughfares.

The blockade has reignited calls from local residents and business owners for a ban on rallies and protests in the Shahbagh area, citing the disproportionate impact on public life and the economy.