A massive wave of people began returning to the capital on Saturday after casting their votes in the 13th National Parliament Election and referendum, triggering heavy congestion at key entry points as offices reopened today.
Large crowds of returnees were seen at major gateways to the city, particularly in Jatrabari, Kamalapur, Gabtoli and Sayedabad.
Passenger-packed buses from districts across the country arrived one after another, placing additional strain on roads and terminals.
The pressure was equally intense at Daulatdia Ghat in Rajbari, where both passengers and vehicles began piling up from the morning. By afternoon, the ghat area was heavily overcrowded.
Many passengers alleged that transport operators were charging extra fares, while supervision at terminals remained inadequate. "There was no proper monitoring," several travellers complained.
This year, government employees and many in the private sector enjoyed a four-day extended holiday. With offices reopening today and numerous small and large factories in Gazipur and Savar resuming operations, the return rush gathered pace from Saturday.
As a result, bus, train and launch terminals witnessed a sharp rise in both passenger and vehicle movement.
Heavy traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail highway caused hours-long tailbacks near the Jamuna Bridge. Vehicles moved at a crawl throughout much of the morning.
"We were stuck for over an hour before reaching the Jamuna Bridge," said Rashed Hasan, who was travelling from Gaibandha.
Meanwhile, thousands returning to Dhaka and Chattogram from southern districts endured severe hardship due to an acute shortage of vessels at river terminals, our Barishal correspondent reports.
Passengers were forced to wait six to eight hours under the scorching sun along the Meghna River, particularly at the Ilisha terminal in Bhola. Despite swelling crowds, insufficient launch services left many stranded.
From morning to afternoon, pressure from Dhaka- and Chattogram-bound passengers continued to mount. Many stood in the blazing heat, hoping to secure space on already overcrowded vessels.
In desperation, numerous passengers boarded overloaded launches, ignoring repeated warnings from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) against unsafe travel.
The post-election homecoming has once again exposed the strain on the country's transport infrastructure during peak travel periods, with passengers bearing the brunt of congestion, delays and inadequate oversight.
