Following the end of the Eid holiday, a 20-kilometre traffic jam has ensued on Dhaka-Bogra highway in Sirajganj, leaving commuters in severe distress.
The congestion, created on Friday afternoon, stretched from the Nalka Bridge on the west end of Bangabandhu Bridge in Sirajganj to Hatikumrul Gol Chattar, and further on to Chandaikona.
The traffic jam also extended up to the Goja Bridge on the Bonpara route.
Due to the gridlock on the highway, long-haul transport vehicles are now diverting through the city of Sirajganj, thereby creating additional traffic congestion in the urban areas.
Hatikumrul highway police station Officer-in-Charge Badrul Kabir noted that people are returning to their workplaces following the end of the Eid holiday, significantly increasing vehicular pressure on the highways.
“The congestion initiated in the afternoon around Hatikumrul Gol Chattar and gradually extended 20 kilometres from the Nalka Bridge on the west end of the Bangabandhu Bridge to Chandaikona bazar,” he said.
Bangabandhu Bridge West police station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Kader Jilani said: "The congestion extends from Nalka Bridge to Chandaikona. This situation is forcing many long-haul vehicles to reroute through the city towards Chandaikona from Kadda. However, we expect the traffic congestion to clear up shortly."
Traffic Inspector Monirul Islam revealed that numerous garment workers are also returning to their workplaces in Dhaka not just by bus but also by trucks and pickups, leading to a surge in traffic.
The police are working on easing the traffic congestion, he said, hoping that the situation would improve soon.
