A 20-kilometre tailback formed on both sides of the Jamuna Bridge on Saturday as thousands of Eid returnees heading towards Dhaka to kick start their work from Sunday morning.
The traffic congestion snowballed into severe congestion early Saturday, stretching from the western end of the bridge in Sirajganj to Simanta Bazar, and from the eastern end to Elenga in Tangail.
On the Sirajganj side, vehicles were stuck in long queues from the west roundabout of the bridge through Koddar Mor, Jhaoil Overpass, Nalka Mor, and up to Simanta Bazar. Vehicular movement was either snail’s pace or at a complete standstill at different points.
In Tangail, traffic slowed to a crawl along a 15km stretch from the eastern end of the bridge to Elenga. The pressure of Dhaka-bound travelers, coupled with a collision between a pickup and a truck on the bridge, and several vehicle breakdowns, worsened the situation.
Faiz Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Jamuna Bridge East Police Station, said, “A late-night accident on the bridge caused the snowball effect. The traffic was moving extremely slowly across nearly 15km, but efforts are underway to restore normal flow.” Md Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Jamuna Bridge West Police Station, said the number of Dhaka-bound vehicles increased significantly, and slow toll collection at the bridge exacerbated the situation.
The severe congestion left thousands stranded for hours, making them bored and tired.
