United News of Bangladesh

The rush of homebound holidaymakers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha intensified on the two major highways passing through Gazipur on Tuesday. From the morning, slow-moving traffic and sporadic tailbacks were reported on both the Dhaka–Mymensingh and Dhaka–Tangail highways as thousands of travellers left the capital to celebrate Eid with their families. Commuters faced difficulties at Chandra Trimor, Safipur, Board Bazar, Bhogra and Chandana Chowrasta areas, where heavy vehicular pressure significantly slowed traffic movement. A long queue of northbound vehicles stretching several kilometres was seen around Chandra Trimor. Vehicles also moved intermittently along the Safipur–Chandra flyover section and the Chandra–Nabinagar road due to congestion. The situation worsened as around 40 to 42 percent of industrial establishments in Gazipur began their Eid holidays on Monday, triggering a simultaneous exodus of workers from the industrial hub. Passenger crowds swelled at bus terminals and roadside stoppages throughout the district. Drivers and passengers said traffic congestion was further aggravated by passengers boarding and disembarking on highways and by irregular parking of vehicles at busy points. Many travellers also alleged that transport operators were charging fares higher than the approved rates on almost all routes ahead of the festival. “We had to wait for a long time to get a bus, and the fare was much higher than usual,” said a passenger at Chandana Chowrasta. To ease congestion and ensure smooth traffic flow, law enforcement agencies have stepped up monitoring on the highways. SM Ashraful Islam, deputy commissioner (Traffic) of the Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said additional police personnel have been deployed at important points along the highways. “We are closely monitoring the traffic situation. Wreckers have also been kept ready to quickly remove stalled vehicles from the roads to prevent prolonged congestion,” he said.

A 30-kilometre tailback was created due to the increased number of vehicles on Dhaka-Tangail-Bangbandhu Bridge Highway in Tangail on Friday.Hundreds of vehicles with passengers, goods and cattle were moving very slowly on Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge Highway due to long tailbacks, causing immense sufferings to Eid holidaymakers.‘The highway is witnessing a 30-kilometre traffic jam from Bangabandhu Bridge East side to Nagarjolfoi Bypass area of Tangail. The traffic jam has been created due to the increasing number of vehicles ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, according to Md Ataur Rahman, in-charge of Elenga Highway Police.Law enforcers are working to control traffic at various important points and intersections, he said, adding that surveillance has also been increased. Also read: Mawa-Bhanga expressway witnesses huge traffic snarl on first day of toll collectionVehicular movement would become normal as time advances, expected the officer.On Friday afternoon, People were seen going to their respective destinations using different vehicles, including cattle laden trucks, pickups, and motorcycles.Due to the tailback, the homebound passengers, especially children and women have become the worst sufferers with having no toilet facilities on their way.Roxana Akter, a Lalmonirhat-bound passenger, said she is worried about reaching home as it had taken more than eight hours to reach Elenga-Bhunapur link road in Kalihati upazila.She also claimed that on the way, while stuck in the tailback, they had paid astronomical prices for food and drinking water to the hawkers.