The capital city is witnessing a mass exodus of people as a 10-day Eid holiday began Thursday.
Millions of Dhaka residents embarked on risky journeys to head home to celebrate the festival with their loved ones, with transport hubs witnessing unprecedented crowds since early Thursday morning when the official holiday period began. The capital’s roads, railways, and waterways are all experiencing heavy passenger pressure, compounded by adverse weather conditions that have significantly increased travel hardships.
At Kamalapur Railway Station, the day began with Balaka Express departing for Mymensingh just before 5am. By mid-morning, 10 trains, including 8 intercity and 2 local services, had already left, with 54 scheduled throughout the day, including special Eid trains. While online ticket holders created packed platforms, those without advance bookings were forced to purchase standing tickets, some even resorting to riding on train roofs under tightened security measures.
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.