Comuters flux to homes amid Eid rush, traffic snurl-up highways

As the holy Eid-ul-Azha approaches, thousands of working people are leaving Dhaka to reunite with their families, but their journey is marred by long traffic jams, roadworks, and accidents on major highways across the country.

Severe traffic congestion on Dhaka-Tangail Highway
Traffic is at a standstill on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, with a 23-kilometer-long congestion stretching from the Ashipur bypass in Tangail to the eastern end of the Jamuna Bridge. Vehicles are moving intermittently, with the bridge authorities reporting over 52,000 vehicles crossing the highway in a single day.

According to Elenga Highway Police Station's OC Sharif Uddin, slow-moving traffic in the Sirajganj section, along with vehicle breakdowns, is contributing to the gridlock. "Our team is working 24/7 to manage the situation," he said.

Padma Bridge Congestion
The Padma Bridge, a major route for travelers heading south, is also experiencing significant congestion, particularly at the Mawa toll plaza. While the pressure was manageable from Wednesday night to Thursday afternoon, long queues of vehicles were seen during peak hours.

To ease the flow, the bridge authorities opened three separate booths for motorcycles in addition to seven toll booths. "Temporary pressure was created due to the surge of motorcycles," said Abu Sayeed, the bridge's executive engineer. Law enforcement agencies have stepped up patrols, and speed guns are being used to maintain order.

Roadworks Disrupt Dhaka-Rangpur Highway
Construction work on the Dhaka-Rangpur highway in the Gobindaganj and Palashbari areas has caused major traffic disruptions. With vehicles forced to navigate narrow roads, long queues formed at the Panthapara-Bakchar and Palashbari four-way intersections.

Gaibandha Division Executive Engineer Md Humayun Kabir explained that the work is part of the SASEC-2 project, though complications in land acquisition have caused delays.

Accident Causes 15-Km congestion on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway
An accident in the Bhatiyari area of Sitakunda on Thursday morning caused a massive 15-kilometer traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. A truck collision, followed by two additional cars crashing into it, blocked traffic for three hours.

Highway Police Chattogram Region Superintendent Muhammad Mahbub Alam stated, "We worked quickly to clear the accident, but illegal parking and uncontrolled vehicle movement further worsened the situation."

Severe Congestion in Gazipur and Savar
In Gazipur, where garment factory holidays have begun, traffic congestion is high, especially at Chandra, Chandra Chowrasta, and Bypail areas. While no major jams were reported from Chandra to Mirzapur, congestion occurred on the Nabinagar-Chandra highway and the Dhaka-Aricha highway, with jams stretching up to 9 kilometers.

Gazipur Metropolitan Traffic Police Assistant Commissioner Touhidul Islam noted, "The pressure has been created because many people are leaving together. We are also exploring alternate transport options to alleviate the bus crisis."