Thousands of homebound travelers from northern Bangladesh began leaving the capital on the second day of the Eid holidays.
But severe traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna bridge highway disrupted their smooth journey .
The traffic jam, stretching nearly 22 kilometres, was triggered by excessive vehicle pressure, rainfall and several vehicles breaking down on the Jamuna Bridge connecting road during the night.
The congestion began on Monday night from the Jamuna Bridge toll plaza to Rabna on the highway. The situation continued until at least 9AM on Tuesday, causing immense suffering for Eid travelers. Women, children, and elderly passengers were among the worst affected as vehicles remained stranded for long periods on different sections of the highway.
From late night onward, slow-moving traffic and repeated congestion were reported in Gorai, Mirzapur, Tangail Bypass, Rabna Bypass, Elenga, and the eastern end of the Jamuna Bridge.
In addition to long-distance buses, passengers were also seen traveling to their destinations in microbuses, private cars, motorcycles, and even open trucks as the rush to return home for Eid intensified.
To ease congestion, district police deployed around 1,000 officers at different points along the highway. Authorities also increased special monitoring on the bridge to ensure a smoother Eid journey.
Police patrols were intensified at key locations to prevent theft, mugging, and robbery.
Executive Engineer of the Jamuna Bridge Site Office, Syed Riaz Uddin, said that rainfall during the night and excessive traffic pressure caused temporary congestion on the highway.
He expressed hope that the situation would return to normal as the day progresses.
