18km tailback on Dhaka-Tangail highway

An 18-kilometre tailback has formed on the Dhaka-Tangail highway causing immense suffering to commuters and cargo transport.

The traffic gridlock, which extended from the eastern end of Bangabandhu Bridge to Pungli, started to clog the highway since the early hours of Friday.

At the Elenga bus stand, the entrance to North Bengal, in Tangail, vehicles were seen lined up in the North Bengal-bound lane. Passengers on the buses were seen exhausted after being stuck in the traffic jam for a long time.

Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Elenga Highway police outpost In-charge Yasir Arafat said the gridlock began after the bridge’s toll collection was suspended for two and a half hours due to traffic jam on the highway in Sirajganj.

“At the same time, a road accident also took place near Bridge No 4 of Bangabandhu Bridge Highway at around 3am,” he added.

He also added that the weeklong rain has also put pressure of vehicles on the roads since Monday evening.

“Police is working to clear the traffic jam,” he added.