Homebound people remained ignorant of the intercity travel ban and continued leaving the capital via the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Tangail highways on Tuesday.
As a result, traffic had been slow since early morning due to the heavy pressure of vehicles usually observed in the days leading up to the Eid holidays on these two major highways.
Despite the suspension of intercity public transport services, long-route passengers were taking various alternative ways to reach their destination.
Although the more fortunate could afford seats in private cars, low-income people were taking the risk of boarding the backs of trucks, small pick-up trucks and motorcycles.
The 10km-stretch of the highway from Shahidnagar to Putia in Daudkandi of Comilla experienced slow vehicular movement till Tuesday afternoon.
Besides, there were reports of heavy traffic on the 35km-stretch of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway leading up to the Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge early in the morning.
The pressure was mostly from freight trucks, microbuses, pickups, private cars and motorcycles, said Bangabandhu Bridge East police station OC Shafiqul Islam.
Long-haul buses weren’t seen on the highway, he said adding that the traffic congestion returned to normal in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Daudkandi Highway police station OC Jahrul Islam also said long-distance buses weren’t being allowed on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.
Although the number of vehicles increased, the traffic remains moving the highway, he added.
A huge rush of homegoers was witnessed at the highways over the past few days, as people determined to spend Eid holidays with family members continued leaving Dhaka, despite the unimaginable hassles and health risks.
Earlier, the government enforced the lockdown from April 6, which was later extended in several phases in the face of a surge in Covid-19 infections in the country.
Lastly, the lockdown was extended until May 16 as the second of the pandemic wave hit the country.