Traffic reopens between Ploenchit and Nana after anti-IMF protest ends

Traffic between Ploenchit and Nana intersections in central Bangkok has returned to normal after protesters opposing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank ended their demonstration, the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) said on October 16.

Police had earlier announced a temporary closure of outbound Ploenchit Road between Ploenchit and Nana intersections from 8am to 1pm, along with changes to several bus routes, because of a planned protest march during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group.

The affected bus routes included 2, 40, 48, 501, 508 and 511, among others.

Motorists had been advised to use Wireless Road northbound, continue to Phetchaburi Road and enter Sukhumvit Soi 3 before returning to outbound Sukhumvit Road at Nana intersection.

The MPB subsequently announced that traffic on the Ploenchit–Nana section had reopened after the protest group ended its rally.

Protesters put forward six demands

The demonstration formed part of protests held during the IMF–World Bank meetings in Bangkok, with participating groups criticising the economic policies of the two international financial institutions and calling for greater public involvement in economic policymaking.

The protesters put forward six main demands:

1. Cancel the debts of low- and middle-income countries facing debt crises.
2. Allow public scrutiny of foreign debt incurred by governments.
3. End subsidies for large corporations and redirect the money towards agroecological agriculture.
4. Raise government revenue through progressive corporate and wealth taxes.
5. Reform central banks to make them more democratic, transparent and accountable to the public.
6. Put people and the planet at the centre of economic policymaking.

The protests coincided with the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, where security and traffic restrictions were introduced around the venue on October 16.