With the seven-day Eid holiday approaching, travelers face the risk of severe traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways. Ongoing development projects, road encroachments, illegal vehicle stands, and unfinished BRT construction are expected to cause hours-long delays, authorities and drivers warn.
Traffic pressure is expected to peak in the two days preceding Eid.
Officials from the Roads and Highways Department, along with passengers and drivers, identified at least eight locations in Gazipur that could experience significant congestion during the Eid exodus. Vehicles from five districts move through Chandana Chourasta on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, while another route via Kaliakoir carries traffic from 16 northern districts. Both highways regularly face congestion during periods of high vehicle load, which is expected to worsen during the Eid travel rush. Road encroachments, illegal vehicle stands, and random passenger boarding and alighting have heightened the risk of delays.
Of the eight critical locations, six are on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway and two on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. Congestion is likely in areas with floating markets, battery-operated rickshaw traffic, illegal structures, scattered vehicle parking, and haphazard passenger movement, potentially causing travelers to face delays of several hours.
The Dhaka-Tangail Highway, connecting 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions, also experiences heavy vehicle loads every Eid. Traffic jams often occur at Chandra Trimor in Kaliakoir Upazila, with roads narrowed by illegal occupation on both sides. Additionally, Gazipur sees increased highway pressure when garment factories close for holidays, which can trigger jams if traffic management is insufficient.
On the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, critical congestion points include Tongi Station Road, College Gate, Board Bazar, Chandana Chourasta, Bhavanipur in Sadar Upazila, Bagher Bazar, Gorgoria Master Bari in Sreepur Upazila, Mawna Chourasta, MC Bazar, Nayanpur, and Jainabazar. Delays may worsen at Chandana Chourasta due to the flyover remaining closed. Authorities under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges have already identified these high-risk zones.
The long-delayed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway remains incomplete more than a decade after its inception, causing severe public inconvenience. Drivers and passengers often face hours-long traffic jams. The government launched the BRT project in December 2012 to establish a fast, safe, and environmentally friendly transport corridor from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Initially scheduled for four years and one month, the project’s timeline has been extended five times. Despite a planned completion in December 2024, work is still ongoing.
Traffic from 16 northern districts moves through the Dhaka-Tangail Highway via Chandra Trimor. During Eid, long vehicle queues form at various points, including Konabari, Sofipur, and Naveenagar-Chandra Highway. On the seven-kilometer stretch at Zirani Bus Stand in Gazipur Metropolitan Area, congestion persists year-round. Drivers cite broken roads as a major cause, with travel normally taking over two hours. The Chandra congestion stretches across several kilometers, resulting in hours-long delays for homebound travelers each year.
Abdul Jabbar, driver of Bhatibangla Transport in Jamalpur, told Dhaka Tribune: “The BRT project work from Tongi to Board Bazar is still incomplete. During Eid, the influx of vehicles and people may cause traffic jams at the project stations because the roads are narrow. Travelers could be stuck for hours.”
Rafiqul Islam, driver of Prabhati-Bonshree Transport in Sreepur, said: “A garbage heap beside the highway at Chandana Chourasta has narrowed the road. Even normally, congestion occurs here, and during Eid, it will worsen.”
Humayun Kabir, a passenger on Alam Asia Transport in Phulbari, Mymensingh, said: “Markets occupying sidewalks and roads at key points, along with uncontrolled rickshaw movement, are increasing delays. If these aren’t controlled, travelers will face longer hardship during Eid.”
Moizuddin Mia, driver of Islam Transport in Jamalpur, added: “Markets occupy half the road at key points, turning two-lane roads into single lanes. The walls along the highway prevent vehicles from overtaking freely, creating long queues. Combined with auto-rickshaw chaos and extra traffic, the Eid journey on this highway could be very difficult.”
Gazipur Police Superintendent (SP) Shafiur Uddin told Dhaka Tribune: “Traffic jams occur from Mouchak to Chandra on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway during Eid. Based on past experience, all preparations have been made with relevant officials. We hope travelers will reach home safely and enjoy a traffic-free journey.”
SM Ashraful Alam, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, added: “The longest traffic jams on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway occur at Chandana Chourasta and Bhogorar Peyarabagan. The Chandana Chourasta flyover towards Dhaka will be opened before Eid, ensuring vehicles from Mymensingh do not get stuck. Illegal structures, markets, and sidewalk encroachments will also be cleared beforehand. Even if traffic increases, jams will be minimized.”
