Despite the suspension of long-distance public transport, long-route buses have been seen plying the Dhaka-Tangail Highway on Saturday.
The result has been unprecedented traffic on the Bangabandhu Bridge as homebound people left the capital in large numbers, defying the government-imposed travel ban to curb the transmission of the coronavirus infection.
Besides, people were also seen travelling on various private vehicles, including trucks, pickup vans, private cars and motorcycles.
Hygiene is not being maintained as people were travelling in a congested manner, returning home despite the risk of infection.
The same scene was observed at various points of the highway till Saturday afternoon
Also read - Ferry operations suspended
Hanif Miya, a truck driver headed to Bogra, said he had been pushing heavy traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway since early morning.
Yasir Arafat, in charge of the Elenga Highway police outpost, said that the pressure suddenly mounted on the Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge Highway following the suspension of the Shimulia-Banglabazar and Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services on Saturday morning.
He said the traffic would normalize as the day progressed.
Meanwhile, police were slapping fines on the long-distance buses for disobeying the travel ban, he added.
