After the 'March for Gaza' program on Saturday (April 12), Shahbagh metro station in Dhaka witnessed a massive crowd, causing serious disruptions. As thousands of passengers gathered at the station, the pressure became overwhelming, especially around the automatic ticket gates, which were operating slowly. In response to the situation, metro authorities allowed people to access the platform without tickets to ease the congestion.
Eyewitnesses said there was barely any room to stand on the platform, and many were seen entering without tickets amid the chaos. Some even made repeated attempts to bypass the gates. Eventually, due to the uncontrollable crowd, officials opened the gates and permitted free entry to manage the situation.
Several passengers expressed frustration over the lack of preparation by authorities, even though it was already expected that Shahbagh would see extra footfall due to the protest. A regular commuter, Aminul Islam, questioned why no additional manpower or measures were arranged in advance despite knowing the event's schedule. He blamed the authorities for the suffering faced by commuters.
Another passenger, Tanvir, shared that he was initially waiting in line to buy a ticket but later joined others in entering without one after hearing that travel was free for the day.
