20-km traffic jam on Dhaka-Tangail highway

Hundreds of vehicles with passengers and goods are moving very slowly on Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu bridge highway due to long tailbacks from early Sunday (Aug 01), causing immense and untold sufferings to the passengers.

The highway is witnessing a 20-kilometre traffic jam from Bangabandhu Bridge East side to Rabna area of Tangail sadar upazila.

During a visit to the highway on Sunday morning, it was seen that Rabna, Bikramhati, Rasulpur, Pauli, and Elenga on the highway have come to a halt. People were seen returning to their respective destinations using different vehicles including trucks, pickups, and motor bikes. Sometimes, vehicles were seen moving at a snail’s speed. But people were not seen following health guidelines.

Truck driver Humayun Bepari said, “There is a huge pressure of vehicles from Nalka bridge of Sirajganj. Vehicles are moving slowly in Tangail.”

Shefali, a garment worker, said, “We are suffering a lot due to the sudden opening of factories. We have paid Tk 800 instead of Tk 300 to reach our destinations.”

Another man called Rafik said, “We are poor people. We are bound to attend offices in garment factories amid life risks. If we fail to attend, we will be terminated. That’s why we are returning to our offices amid risks during this coronavirus pandemic.”

When contacted, Officer-In-Charge (OC) of Bangabandhu Bridge East Thana Shafiqul Islam and In-Charge of Elenga highway police outpost Yasir Arafat could not be reached for comments.