Commuters in Dhaka have been stuck for hours in traffic jam today (September 13, 2022). Rain, that started from the morning, caused traffic chaos in several points of Dhaka, including Tongi, Uttara, Airport, Mohakhali, Bijoy Sarani and Bangla Motor areas. Vehicles were seen stalled for hours on the road. Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) of Uttara Division, Nafiz Kamal Shoibal, said a one-km long tailback was seen from Munno Gate to Milgate area in Tongi and a number of vehicles were passing through with caution due to the dilapidated condition of the road. Potholes have formed on the road due to the ongoing work of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Read: Launch school bus services to reduce traffic: DNCC Mayor

Eid holidaymakers have been suffering since Saturday morning to cross the Padma River as a 10-kilometer long tailback was created on Dhaka-Khulna highway and regional road adjacent to Daulatdia ferry terminal. Hundreds of Dhaka-bound passengers thronged the ferry terminal after celebrating Eid with dear and near ones in the village home. But due to a shortage of ferries and rush of Dhaka-bound  passenger, a long traffic jam was created on the highway and regional road connected to the ferry ghat. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the road and  people had to wait for five to seven hours in Goalanda for crossing the river. BIWTC officials said the tailback was created near Daulatdia ferry terminal due to huge number of private cars as people were returning to Dhaka to join the office on Sunday. The authorities are trying to reduce the traffic gridlock  but nothing works properly due to the extra pressure of vehicles. Also read: Return rush at Paturia ferry terminal Rafiqul Islam, a job holder of a private company in Dhaka said, he along with his family celebrated Eid in his village home in Faridpur. The vehicle distance between his home and Daulatdia ghat is only 40 minutes. He started the journey in the morning and remained stuck in traffic jam for seven hours. Many people were seen going to the ferry terminal on foot as they wanted to avoid long traffic jam on the Dhaka-Khulna highway. Garment worker Parul said, “After Eid vacation, my office will reopen tomorrow (Sunday). But I am stranded on the road near the ferry ghat for hours. Probably, I will not get enough time for taking rest before starting the office tomorrow morning." Also read: Ferry services resume on Paturia-Daulatdia route after 4 hours Daulatdia ghat police station officer-in-charge Swapan Kumar Majumder said an additional 200 police members have been deployed at the ghat. They are patrolling at various points of the highway and are working to reduce  traffic jams, he said.

Hundreds of vehicles waiting to cross the Padma river remain stranded at the Paturia ferry ghat, triggering a 3km tailback in the area. These vehicles, mostly buses, microbuses and private cars, have been stranded at the ferry ghat since the small hours of Saturday, causing immense sufferings to those on board. Officials said that these vehicles have been waiting to board ferries on the busy Paturia-Daulatdia route. "At least 3,000 home-bound people are also waiting to cross the Padma river," an official said. To tackle the chaotic situation at the terminal, the ferries are taking in passengers beyond their capacities. READ: Chaos at Paturia ghat as 300 cars wait to cross Padma Md Shah Newaz, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said already the movement of goods-laden vehicles on this route has been suspended.  "Only those vehicles stuck for several days in the ghat area are being allowed to cross the river. We may add one more ferry to cater to the mad rush," he said. Golam Azad Khan, superintendent of Manikganj Police, said that additional police force has been deployed at the ghat to help control vehicular movement and maintain discipline in the terminal area. Currently, 21 ferries are operating on the Paturia-Daulatdia route to tackle the huge pressure of vehicles and passengers.