Eid travel: Passengers travelling to north face a 13-km-long traffic jam

The government and the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges have taken several measures to try and ease journeys home for Eid travellers, but many travelling to the north of the country are still facing the same old difficulties.

Holidaymakers travelling to the north from Dhaka were bogged down in a 13-kilometre-long traffic jam from Elenga to Bangabandhu Bridge on Sunday, the day before Eid.

Traffic is currently moving very slowly on the eight-kilometre stretch of the highway from Salla to Bangabandhu Bridge toll plaza.

Congestion clogged the northward lane from the Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge to Elenga from 5am to 7am on Sunday, said Mir Md Sajedur Rahman, chief of the Elenga Highway Police Outpost.

The situation is leading to suffering for travellers.

However, the traffic eased as the morning rolled into midday. Still, an eight-kilometre stretch of road from Salla to the Bangabandhu Bridge toll plaza is heavily congested.

Some vehicles are running slow at some points on the Bhuapur-Tangail highway, Sajedur said.

The congestion was due to too many vehicles on the road, unfit vehicles breaking down on the Bangabandhu Bridge, toll collection issues at the bridge, and drivers driving recklessly to try and escape the jam, according to passengers, drivers and other people on the road.

The traffic has marred the merry mood of holiday-goers.

Those unfortunate enough to be stuck on public transport or travelling on open trucks and pick-up trucks used to carry cattle were facing the most hardship.

Many, including women and children, put their lives at risk by travelling in unsafe vehicles.

OC Sajedur said toll collection on the bridge was halted for 10 minutes as some vehicles tried to pass in a disorderly way. This tangle led to heavy congestion on the bridge and the highway.

But now the vehicles are moving at the regular speed, he said.