Dhaka, Dec. 7 -- Thousands of people have been plunged into extreme difficulty as mobile phone traders blocked roads around the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in Agargaon, bringing traffic to a near standstill.

Access to three major specialised hospitals near the BTRC office -- the children's hospital, the orthopaedic hospital and the National Institute of Neurosciences -- has become severely restricted, making it difficult for patients to enter or leave.

Around 5pm on Sunday, the front of the neurosciences hospital was completely clogged with traffic. An ambulance stood blaring its siren at the gate but was unable to move.

Its driver, Mohammad Yahia, said the patient inside was meant to be transferred to ano...