A severe traffic congestion stretching nearly 17 kilometers brought traffic to a standstill on Narayanganj section of Dhaka–Chittagong Highway on Monday, leaving thousands of passengers and drivers stranded for hours amid intense heat.
The congestion began in the morning after Roads and Highways Department launched repair work on a damaged section of Langalbandh Bridge. Authorities temporarily closed one side of Dhaka-bound lane to carry out concrete casting work, triggering a massive tailback that extended beyond Daudkandi Bridge.
Buses, trucks, covered vans, and private cars remained stranded on the highway for prolonged periods, forcing many passengers to abandon their vehicles and continue their journeys on foot.
A commuter, Abir Hossain, said he left his vehicle to avoid missing an important business meeting. “I have a meeting at 3:00 pm. If I fail to reach on time, I could face significant financial losses. So, I decided to walk ahead and try to find another vehicle once traffic eases,” he said.
Truck driver Amir Hossain described the situation as chaotic, saying the congestion had stretched far beyond Daudkandi. “I’ve been stuck in the same spot for over an hour,” he added.
Shamim Sheikh, Officer-in-Charge of Kanchpur Highway Police Station, said the slow movement of vehicles was caused by ongoing repair work on the Langalband Bridge.
“One side of the Dhaka-bound lane has been closed for repair work on the damaged section of the bridge. This has caused heavy congestion. Traffic is expected to return to normal after the work is completed,” he told Bangla Tribune.
Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department, Abdur Rahim, acknowledged temporary disruption but said the renovation work was necessary to improve long-term traffic conditions on the busy highway.
