The traffic congestion begins late Friday night and intensifies early Saturday

Staff Correspondent:

A 50-kilometre tailback formed on both sides of the Jamuna Bridge on Saturday morning as thousands of holidaymakers returned to their workplaces at the end of the Eid-ul-Azha vacation.

The traffic congestion began late Friday night and intensified early Saturday, stretching from the western end of the bridge in Sirajganj to Simanta Bazar, and from the eastern end to Elenga in Tangail, according to police and local sources.

On the Sirajganj side, vehicles were stuck in long queues from the west roundabout of the bridge through Koddar Mor, Jhaoil Overpass, Nalka Mor, and up to Simanta Bazar. Vehicular movement was either sluggish or at a complete standstill at various points.

In Tangail, traffic slowed to a crawl along a 25km stretch from the eastern end of the bridge. The pressure of Dhaka-bound travellers, coupled with a collision between a pickup and a truck on the bridge, and several vehicle breakdowns, worsened the situation.

Faiz Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Jamuna Bridge East Police Station, said, “A late-night accident on the bridge caused a build-up. The traffic was moving slowly across nearly 25km, but efforts are underway to restore normal flow.”

Md Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Jamuna Bridge West Police Station, said the number of Dhaka-bound vehicles surged significantly, and slow toll collection at the bridge exacerbated the situation.

The severe congestion left thousands stranded for hours, turning their return journey into a long and tiring experience.