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Fish loading on highway causes traffic jams

Published : Monday, 5 October, 2026 at 8:04 PM

Observer Online Report

Fish is being loaded and unloaded from vehicles parked on and along the Dhaka-Kuakata highway at Mahipur fish port in Kalapara, causing traffic congestion and suffering for tourists travelling to Kuakata.

The problem becomes more severe during the tourist season and on holidays, when tourists, passengers and local residents often remain stuck in traffic for long periods.

More than 100 buses, trucks and pickup vans transport fish from Mahipur fish port to different parts of the country every day. As the port has no designated terminal or loading zone, traders park vehicles on or beside the highway to load fish.

The road becomes even narrower when workers load fish and ice onto the vehicles, further disrupting traffic.

Recently, Dhaka-based tourist Alamgir Islam was stuck in traffic in Mahipur for around 40 to 45 minutes while returning from Kuakata.

“Traffic congestion is inevitable when vehicles are parked on the highway to load fish. Although we were stuck for so long, I did not see much action from the administration to ease the congestion. A permanent solution should be found,” he said.

Lima Begum, a tourist who travelled to Kuakata from Khulna, said she was stuck in traffic for a long time with her young child.

“Vehicles loaded with fish are parked on the highway, disrupting normal traffic. A designated loading zone should be established here quickly, keeping tourists in mind,” she said.

Locals said fish loading and unloading on the highway had been continuing for years without an effective solution. The lack of infrastructure for the fish trade is causing difficulties for traders and workers while directly affecting traffic on the busy highway.

Local businessman Mehedi Hasan said fish loading takes place daily near Mahipur Police Station, but there was little police activity to control traffic and maintain order on the road.

He said a designated loading zone or terminal was urgently needed to organise fish transportation from Mahipur fish port. Effective action by the administration and law enforcement agencies was also needed to stop fish loading and unloading on the highway.

Fish traders, however, said they were not deliberately occupying the highway. They said they had to park vehicles beside the road because there was no designated terminal or loading point for transporting fish.

Raju Ahmed Raja, vice-president of the Mahipur Fish Port Traders' Association, said, “We also do not want to load fish by parking vehicles on the highway. But there is no designated place for transporting fish. A large quantity of fish has to be sent to different parts of the country every day. The problem will be solved if the authorities arrange a separate place.”

Mahipur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamim Ahmed said the issue had come to the police's attention.

He said traders and workers had been instructed to keep the road clear while loading and unloading fish.

“We will look into the matter seriously to ease public suffering and reduce traffic congestion,” he said.

Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Arifuzzaman said an initiative had been taken to construct a temporary terminal to find a permanent solution to the traffic congestion in Mahipur.

“We have prepared to construct a temporary terminal. The chairman of Mahipur Sadar Union Parishad was instructed to start the work, but he could not do so as his tenure has ended. An administrator will be appointed to the union soon and construction work will begin,” he said.

The UNO added that fish traders, transport workers and local labour leaders had been informed that fish could not be loaded or unloaded by blocking the highway or parking vehicles on both sides of the road.

He warned that action would be taken against those who violate the instructions.

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