A 32km-long tailback has formed on both sides of the Meghna-Gumti Bridge—situated along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. This has caused anguish to many cattle traders.
Hundreds of vehicles have been stuck on the highway since Tuesday, adding to the suffering of the drivers and passengers.
Police sources informed the Dhaka Tribune, on Thursday, that the traffic has stretched approximately 22km from the Meghna-Gumti Bridge toll plaza to Chandina upazilla's Madhaiya. It is also up to 10km towards Munshiganj district.
Comilla Highway Police Superintendent (SP) Nazrul Islam said: “The traffic jam started forming around Tuesday afternoon, and has grown to around 30-32km by Thursday—on both sides of Meghna-Gumti Bridge. It continues to grow.”
Police blame the garment workers near the Meghna Bridge, who had blocked the highway for some time—causing heavy traffic.
He also said that the police are working to resolve the situation and return traffic back to normal.
Cattle traders are concerned about the food and health conditions of their cattle.
A Dhaka-bound businessman Jakir Hossain said that he departed Comilla for Dhaka ain the early hours on Thursday but still could not reach Daudkandi.
Mohammad Abdul Awal, a businessman from Comilla, said that trade has slowed as businessmen were unable to reach Dhaka—because of traffic congestion even though trade was supposed to increase during Eid.
