50km traffic jam on two highways in Gazipur, fares triple

A massive rush of homebound people has hit the highways of the industrial hub Gazipur following the announcement of a continuous four-day holiday for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. 

As a result, an unprecedented traffic congestion stretching nearly 50 kilometers has formed on the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways. 

Taking advantage of the situation, transport operators have been accused of charging triple the usual fares.

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Visits to the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways revealed the severe congestion on Tuesday morning (10 February). Passengers reported that fares normally set at Tk500 were being charged at Tk1,200 to Tk1,500. 

Angered by the excessive fares, travelers reportedly blocked the road for a short time in the Chandana Chourasta-Mawna area of Gazipur.

Traffic jams were observed on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway from Tongi College Gate to Mawna Chourasta, and on the Dhaka-Tangail highway from the Bhogra area of Gazipur to the Kaliakair Bypass. In many places, vehicles remained stuck for hours.

Earlier, from Monday afternoon, more than 400 industrial factories in different parts of Gazipur announced holidays, triggering a growing exodus of workers heading home from the evening onward. 

The Chandra Bus Terminal area—an entry point to 26 northern districts—saw overwhelming crowds of passengers. After spending the night waiting for transport, people began leaving for their destinations from this morning using buses, trucks, pickups, and other vehicles.

To ease the congestion, members of law enforcement agencies have been actively deployed in the Chandra Bus Terminal, Chandana Chourasta, and Bhogra Bypass areas of Gazipur.