As Eid approaches and millions prepare to travel from cities to their hometowns, Bangladesh’s highways are once again under mounting pressure.
Long jam, slow-moving traffic and frequent disruptions have already begun to surface, raising concerns over a difficult journey for holiday travellers.
An in-depth look at official data and field realities suggests that one of the primary causes of this recurring congestion is the presence of roadside markets and unregulated bus stands along major highways.
According to a police report presented at a high-level meeting held on March 5 at the Secretariat, there are at least 129 busy points along eight major highways where roadside markets, shops, and informal bus stand areas directly interfere with traffic movement.
These roads have effectively turned into permanent bottlenecks, where vehicles are forced to slow down or stop due to passenger boarding, roadside business and local traffic load.
Ministry sources warn that during Eid, when traffic volume multiplies, these points become the centre point of long tailbacks.
The distribution of these pressure points is as follows:
- Dhaka–Aricha highway: 8 markets, 4 bus stands
- Dhaka–Barisal highway: 9 markets, 10 bus stands
- Dhaka–Mymensingh highway: 17 markets, 5 bus stands
- Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar highway: 7 markets, 7 bus stands
- Jessore–Khulna highway: 1 market, 1 bus stand
- Dhaka–Tangail–Rangpur highway: 5 markets, 9 bus stands
- Dhaka–Chittagong highway: 19 bus stands (no markets identified)
- Dhaka–Sylhet highway: 19 markets, 2 bus stands
Transport experts say these roadside installations significantly disrupt the continuous movement of vehicles, particularly on highways that are already operating near capacity.
Under existing regulations, private cars and buses are allowed to travel at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, while motorcycles are capped at 50km/h. However, the real scenario is markedly different.
Average speeds on highways have dropped to around 30km/h, reflecting the impact of congestion and disrupted traffic flow. In Dhaka, during peak hours, speeds fall further to between 10 and 15km/h, indicating severe urban spillover onto adjacent highway networks.
Experts say unregulated roadside activities—including markets, shops, and indiscriminate passenger movements—are among the main reasons behind this persistent slowdown.
Beyond the 129 identified pressure points, authorities have also mapped 207 congestion-prone locations across the national highway network. Besides, 285 accident-prone “black spots” have been identified where the risk of collisions remains high.
These areas are typically characterized by a combination of factors: poor road design, multiple intersecting roads, roadside market activity, and weak enforcement of traffic regulations.
As a result, these zones experience frequent traffic disruptions and accidents, further compounding delays—especially during peak travel seasons like Eid.
Among all highways, the Dhaka–Tangail–Rangpur corridor has emerged as the most congestion-prone, with at least 55 critical locations identified.
Within this corridor, there are five roadside markets and nine bus stands contributing to regular traffic disruptions. Key congestion points include Chandra JBV Tower, Palli Bidyut, Mawchak, Elenga, Hatikumrul intersection, Charmatha, Mokamtola, and Charia Shikar Madhyapara.
Transport operators report that these areas frequently experience illegal parking, roadside passenger fluctuations, and heavy local traffic, leading to prolonged congestion.
Bangladesh’s transport system remains heavily dependent on roads, with approximately 88% of passenger movement and 76% of freight transport carried out via highways.
During Eid, when millions travel within a short period, traffic volume increases several-fold. This surge places immense strain on existing infrastructure, particularly at identified bottlenecks.
Stakeholders warn that without effective management, congestion at these points could worsen significantly, leading to extended travel times and increased risk of accidents.
A recurring concern highlighted by those concerned is the lack of effective enforcement of traffic laws. Although designated bus stops exist in many areas, vehicles often stop at arbitrary locations, many of which have evolved into informal bus stands.In addition, roadside encroachment by markets continues largely unchecked, further narrowing effective road space.
These structural and governance challenges make it difficult to ensure smooth traffic flow, even when additional police or administrative measures are deployed during Eid.
Experts suggest that addressing highway congestion will require a combination of short-term and long-term measures. These include relocating roadside markets, regulating bus կանգ areas, eliminating illegal parking, and strictly enforcing traffic rules.
However, despite repeated policy discussions and seasonal initiatives, implementation remains inconsistent.
As a result, for millions of travellers, Eid journeys continue to be shaped by uncertainty—where travel time depends not just on distance, but on how effectively these chronic bottlenecks can be managed.