5 km tailback on Dhaka-Tangail highway slows Eid travel

Traffic has slowed significantly in parts of Gazipur's major highways, including the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail routes, as Eid holidaymakers continue their journey home. 

While no severe gridlock has been reported, vehicles are moving sluggishly in key areas such as Tongi to Salna and Chandra to adjacent points due to increasing passenger and vehicle pressure. According to traffic updates today (5 June), the congestion started to build from last night and intensified as the day progressed.

The worst-affected stretches were reported on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway between Tongi and Salna, covering about 3 kilometres, and on the Dhaka-Tangail highway from Chandra, extending across 5 kilometres.

"It took us eight hours to reach the Jamuna Bridge from Gabtoli due to severe traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Tangail highway," said a commuter, describing the harrowing Eid journey.

Gazipur's garment workers, heading home for Eid-ul-Adha, were seen queueing at transport hubs since the morning. 

To ease the flow, a three-tier security system involving over 4,000 personnel has been deployed across both highways. Police, army, BGB, Gazipur City Corporation, and district administration officials are jointly managing the situation.

Police sources said the Eid holidays for garment workers were scheduled in three phases - 10% of factories closed on Tuesday, 40% on Wednesday, and the remaining 50% on Thursday. The staggered schedule was designed to avoid a sudden rush on the highways, but transport demand still surged sharply this afternoon.

Many travellers reported having to wait for long periods at stations due to a shortage of available buses. Those unable to secure regular seats resorted to travelling on the roofs of buses, trucks, or other makeshift vehicles. Some commuters also claimed they were charged excessive fares.

"Transport fares are slightly higher than usual," one passenger said. "Due to the rush, we couldn't find a proper bus and had to board a pickup van."

Salna Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Shawgatul Alam said, "A three-layered security arrangement is in place to ensure a smooth Eid journey. Besides the police, members of the army and BGB are also assisting in managing traffic."

In one incident at Konabari on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, army patrols intervened after reports of overcharging. Following the patrol's presence, ticket prices were adjusted from Tk1,500 to Tk1,000, and all bus counters were warned not to charge excessive fares.

Gazipur Superintendent of Police Chowdhury Mohammad Zaber Sadek said nearly 800 police members had been deployed across Gazipur's segments of the highways. 

"We are working directly on the ground alongside senior officers to maintain traffic flow and ensure law and order," he said.

The Gazipur Metropolitan Police has deployed an additional 400 traffic personnel. GMP Commissioner Najmul Karim Khan said, "Our officers are active along the Tongi to Rajendrapur and Konabari corridors. With support from mobile courts, we are taking steps to prevent harassment and fare overcharging. Our goal is to ensure a smooth and safe Eid journey."