23-kilometre tailback causes suffering on Dhaka-Tangail highway

A nearly 23-kilometre traffic congestion has formed on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway after several vehicles broke down amid rainfall, causing severe suffering for Eid holiday travellers.

According to reports, the traffic gridlock stretched from the Jamuna Bridge toll plaza to Gharinda in Tangail Sadar upazila from late Monday night.

Vehicles were moving intermittently along the highway, leaving passengers stranded for hours. Women, children and elderly travellers were reportedly facing the worst difficulties during the long delays.

A passenger travelling to Pabna from Mawchak in Gazipur said he had boarded a truck after failing to find a bus early in the morning.

“A journey that normally takes around one and a half hours has already taken more than three and a half hours, and we are still stuck near Pouli,” he said.

Another female passenger said traffic had been moving slowly since Gharinda, with vehicles advancing briefly before coming to a halt again.

“It has become extremely difficult for us,” she said.

Syed Riaz Uddin, executive engineer at the Jamuna Bridge site office, said rain and excessive vehicle pressure during the Eid rush had caused the congestion.

He, however, expressed hope that the situation would gradually improve as the day progresses.