Traffic Gridlock on Dhaka–Tangail Highway After Overnight Rain Causes Suffering for Eid Travelers

Gazipur, March 19, 2026

Heavy overnight rain has caused severe traffic congestion on the Dhaka–Tangail Highway in the Chandra area of Kaliakair, Gazipur, leaving thousands of Eid travelers stranded and facing significant hardship.

According to local residents and passengers, rainfall began in the afternoon and continued intermittently throughout the night, leading to waterlogging in several parts of the highway. As a result, vehicle movement slowed down, eventually turning into long traffic jams stretching across multiple routes.

The congestion spread across key points including Chandra, the Chandra–Nabinagar road, and the Chandra–Konabari road. Reports indicate that traffic was backed up for nearly 25 kilometers from Konabari in Gazipur to Mirzapur in Tangail. Meanwhile, vehicles moved slowly for 5 to 7 kilometers on the Nabinagar road up to Zirabo (Jirani) Bazar.

With the rain easing in the morning and law enforcement stepping in, traffic conditions began to improve gradually. However, vehicles are still moving slowly in and around the Chandra area.

Passengers described severe difficulties, saying that journeys of just a few kilometers took several hours. Many travelers without reserved buses were forced to get down from trucks or pickups and walk parts of the way before finding alternative transport.

One passenger heading to Rajshahi said he boarded a bus around midnight from Konabari and reached Chandra by dawn, but by 9 a.m., he had barely made further progress. Traveling with family under such conditions has been extremely difficult.

Another traveler with a child said staying inside a bus for hours without proper food or rest has been exhausting, with no certainty about when they would reach home.

Drivers also reported challenges. A bus driver mentioned that due to the rain, traffic control was weak in some areas, allowing vehicles to move irregularly, which worsened the congestion.

Police officials stated that efforts have been ongoing since night to ease the traffic situation. Additional personnel have been deployed, and traffic management has been strengthened at key points. Authorities are hopeful that the situation will continue to improve.

As in previous years, a combination of increased Eid travel pressure, poor road management, and adverse weather conditions contributed to the severe traffic congestion at the Chandra intersection.