Dhaka and the highways out of the capital were snowed under unusual volume of traffic since Friday morning following the end of six-day Opposition-backed blockade. Congestion slowed down traffic on the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Tangail highways.Tailbacks were reported from the entry points of the capital and on other roads as well.
The Opposition blockade from 6am on Saturday lasted until 5pm on Thursday. After the breather on Friday, the opposition alliance has called another 72-hour blockade beginning from 6am on Saturday.
Citizens hit the streets for purchase of essentials or to finish urgent work, while long-haul buses with passengers set off for their destinations on Thursday night.
But many were stuck on the road due to the long tail.
People have to remain stuck on the roads for a long time due to the huge tailbacks, correspondents reported.
Sporadic traffic congestions were reported from the capital’s Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Sadarghat, Mohakhali, Farmgate, Gabtali, Mirpur and Kalyanpur since morning.
The congestion became severe after Juma prayers in Kalyanpur, Kalabagan, Science Lab and Asad Gate, reported Golam Murtaza Dhrubo.
Mainamati Highway Police Station OC Md Masiur Rahman told journalists there was traffic congestion on many points of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, stretching from Daudkandi through Biswa Road since morning.
As the day progressed the pressure of traffic eased but vehicles were moving slow, he said.
There was heavy tailback on both sides of the Bangabandhu Bridge, the connecting point between the capital and the northern region.
Bangabandhu Bridge (west) Police Station ATM Aminul Islam told journalists the pressure of traffic kept increasing since Thursday evening, immediately after the end of the blockade.
Traffic snarls piled up into the midnight but eased at dawn, he said, adding that vehicles were now moving intermittently.
Bogra correspondent reported newspapers reached Bogra after 12.30pm on Friday as against the other days when they reached the district by 8am.
Hatikumrul Highway Police Station OC Ali Farid Ahmed said Hatikumrul intersection is the connecting point of 20 districts of the north and southern regions.
Traffic was normal on three out of four highways but the Dhaka-bound vehicles were moving very slowly, he said.
BNP-led 18-Party opposition alliance has been agitating since Oct 24 to press for restoration of a non-party government to supervise polls.
They called two spells of nationwide shutdown since Oct 27. They enforced blockades in roads, railways and waterways since Nov 26 following the announcement of election schedule.
The opposition activists resorted to violence during the shutdowns and blockades.
They have carried out sabotage acts on rail tracks and vandalized and torched vehicles panicking people.
Over 50 people have so far died in violence related to blockade.-bdnews24.com
