With Eid-ul-Azha approaching fast, highways in Savar, Ashulia and Gabtoli have started witnessing a sharp rise in traffic pressure as thousands of people leave the capital to celebrate the festival with their families.
From early Tuesday, major routes, including the Dhaka–Aricha highway, Nabinagar–Chandra road and the EPZ–Abdullahpur stretch, experienced heavy vehicle movement, turning several points into long lines of slow-moving traffic.
The situation became more difficult in the afternoon as the number of buses, private vehicles and cattle trucks increased significantly.
Since morning, continuous rainfall and waterlogging in several low-lying areas have added to the sufferings of homebound passengers, as many commuters were seen waiting for buses under rain-soaked conditions along the highways.
Rainwater accumulated at different points in Hemayetpur, Baipail, Nabinagar and Pakiza areas, slowing vehicle movement further and worsening traffic congestion.
Many passengers complained that despite enduring long waits in the rain and paying inflated fares, they were still unable to secure seats on buses, while some were forced to walk through muddy and waterlogged roads carrying luggage and Eid shopping bags.
Although traffic congestion was visible in several areas, authorities said the highways had not come to a complete standstill.
A visit to different parts of Savar showed severe crowding at Hemayetpur, Pakiza, Genda, Radio Colony, Nabinagar and Baipail, where passengers carrying luggage waited for hours in search of transport. Many garment workers were seen standing beside highways after failing to find seats on buses heading to northern and southern districts.
Passengers alleged that transport operators were taking advantage of the Eid rush by charging excessively high fares. In many cases, ticket prices were reportedly two or even three times higher than normal.
Sharmin Akter, a garment worker waiting in Baipail, said she had been trying since morning to find a bus within her budget.
“Every counter is asking for extra money because of Eid. I have been standing here for hours but still cannot manage a ticket,” she said.
At the Pakiza area, several passengers travelling to northern districts and nearby districts made similar complaints. Rafiqur Rahman, one of the travellers, said buses were demanding around Tk1,500 for trips that usually cost less than Tk700.
“Most of my salary has already gone into Eid shopping and family expenses. Paying such high fares is very difficult,” he said.
As buses became overcrowded, some passengers were even seen trying to board empty cattle trucks returning from city markets.
Residents and commuters blamed the random stopping of buses on highways and the uncontrolled movement of battery-run autorickshaws for worsening the traffic situation. According to locals, buses frequently block lanes while picking up passengers, creating instant bottlenecks at busy points such as Genda U-turn, Pakiza, Radio Colony and Baipail.
Adding to the problem, several construction work has narrowed parts of the road near Baipail, slowing down vehicle movement further despite temporary repairs ahead of Eid.
Drivers also acknowledged the growing pressure on highways. Shumon Mia, a long-route bus driver, said traffic volume had increased sharply after the beginning of Eid holidays in different sectors.
“Now the real Eid journey has started. The number of vehicles and passengers is increasing every hour,” he said.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies said they were working round the clock to prevent major congestion and ensure safer travel for passengers.
Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Shamima Parveen said additional police members had been deployed across important highway points in Savar and Ashulia. Traffic police, community volunteers and scout members were also assisting in traffic management, she added.
Officials further said wreckers and emergency support teams had been kept ready to quickly remove damaged vehicles from roads if necessary.