A massive 25-kilometer traffic jam has paralysed the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway since early Thursday morning, stretching from Tangail’s Ashopur bypass to the Jamuna Bridge area. The holiday rush has forced vehicles to move in intermittent stops along the crucial artery connecting the capital to northern regions.
Police sources attribute the congestion to the Eid holiday rush, with vehicle numbers far exceeding normal traffic volumes. The pressure intensified Wednesday evening, compounded by multiple vehicle breakdowns along the highway. By 9am Thursday, the gridlock extended across the Tangail city bypass, leaving vehicles stranded for hours.
Microbus passenger Mostak Hossain, traveling to Dinajpur, reported covering only 6-7 kilometers in two hours after entering the bypass area at 7am.
To alleviate congestion, Jamuna Bridge toll authorities implemented one-way northbound traffic for about an hour Thursday morning. Official data reveals unprecedented bridge crossings – over 50,000 vehicles traversed the bridge in the 24-hour period from Tuesday to Wednesday midnight, nearly triple the usual daily average.
According to government officials, the crossings generated over Tk3 crore in toll revenue.
The traffic surge reflects the extreme pressure on Bangladesh’s transport infrastructure during what authorities confirm is the heaviest Eid travel period since the bridge’s opening. With vehicles still pouring onto highways, officials warn travelers to expect extended delays throughout the holiday period.
