Gazipur Highways Jammed for 50km as Election Travel Pushes Fares Higher

Severe traffic congestion stretching nearly 50 kilometers has brought major highways in Gazipur to a standstill, with transport operators charging up to three times the usual fare as people travel home ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

The gridlock has affected the Dhaka–Tangail and Dhaka–Mymensingh highways since Tuesday morning (February 10), following a four-day holiday declared by hundreds of factories in the industrial zone. The shutdown triggered a mass exodus of workers heading to their home districts to vote.

Passengers reported that fares that usually cost Tk 500 were being charged between Tk 1,200 and Tk 1,500. Angered by the sudden hike, some passengers briefly blocked the road in the Chandana Chowrasta–Mauna area of Gazipur.

Traffic congestion was reported from Tongi College Gate to Mauna Chowrasta on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway, and from Bhogra in Gazipur to the Kaliakoir bypass on the Dhaka–Tangail highway. Vehicles remained stuck for hours.

Since Monday afternoon, more than 400 factories across Gazipur have closed for the election, sharply increasing pressure on the roads. Chandra Bus Terminal, a key gateway to 26 northern districts, saw heavy crowds as passengers boarded buses, trucks, pickups, and other vehicles in a bid to reach their destinations.

Law enforcement agencies were deployed at Chandra Bus Terminal, Chandana Chowrasta, and Bhogra Bypass to ease congestion.

“I left for my village last night after the holiday was announced, but the vehicle hasn’t moved because of the jam,” said passenger Sajib Hossain. “This morning they are asking for Tk 600 more. There’s no control, and the administration seems absent.”

Shyamoli NR bus driver Abbas Uddin said he left Gabtoli Bus Terminal around 1 p.m. on Monday and reached Savar shortly afterward, but remained stuck there until morning. “The number of passengers has increased sharply, and many vehicles are trapped in traffic,” he said.

Md Saugatul Alam, officer-in-charge of the Naojor Highway Police Station in Gazipur, told Business Times that the congestion was caused by factory closures and workers returning home for the election. “Our officers are working to keep traffic moving,” he said.

“We are also monitoring reports of excessive fares, and action will be taken against those charging extra.”