A severe traffic jam has brought a 15-kilometre section of the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Daudkandi, Comilla, to a near standstill, causing significant hardship for travellers. The congestion, which began in the early hours of Friday at around 3:00 a.m., continued into the afternoon, trapping motorists and passengers for several hours.
Inspector Md. Shah Kamal of Bhoberchar Highway Police Station, Munshiganj, told Prothom Alo that the disruption was triggered when a covered van travelling towards Dhaka overturned on the Meghna Bridge in Sonargaon at around 4:00 a.m. The incident temporarily halted traffic, leaving vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway. Authorities quickly dispatched a recovery truck and removed the overturned van within an hour, allowing traffic to resume. However, the toll collection at the Meghna–Gomti Bridge slowed movement, creating a bottleneck in the Daudkandi area.
Daudkandi Highway Police Officer-in-Charge, Mohammad Iqbal Bahar Majumdar, stated that the precise reasons for the prolonged congestion are still being investigated.
The jam has caused extreme inconvenience for commuters. Two students from Noakhali, Mosharraf Hossain and Mahbubun Nabi, were travelling to Dhaka to catch a flight to Japan at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday. Having departed from Noakhali at 3:00 a.m., they were stuck in traffic in Daudkandi by 6:00 a.m., putting their travel plans at risk.
Businessman Tofazzal Hasan of Noakhali, who was accompanying his daughter Maymuna Hasan to Dhaka for her college studies, reported being trapped for more than three hours, unsure when they would reach their destination. Elderly citizens, women, and children were among those most affected. Chandpur resident Sanjay Kumar Sarker, transporting a patient to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said the patient’s condition worsened after being immobilised in the jam for over three hours.
Drivers of buses also faced significant delays. Zahid Hasan, the driver of the Motlob Express from Chandpur, noted that a 50-minute journey took more than three hours due to the congestion. On the return journey, the high volume of vehicles further contributed to the jam, with the Daudkandi section remaining heavily blocked.
Inspector Jahangir Alam of Gauripur Police Investigation Centre confirmed that officers have been deployed since the morning to manage traffic, but the continuous inflow of vehicles has made the congestion increasingly severe. Authorities have advised commuters to allow extra travel time and remain patient.
Overview of Daudkandi Traffic Disruption
| Date & Time | Incident/Observation | Effect on Commuters |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 a.m., Fri | Traffic jam begins | Vehicles immobilised over 15 km |
| 4:00 a.m., Fri | Covered van overturns on Meghna Bridge | Dhaka-bound traffic halted temporarily |
| 5:00 a.m., Fri | Van recovered | Traffic resumes, slowed by toll collection |
| 6:00 a.m., Sat | Students trapped in traffic | Missed flight risk to Japan |
| 9:00 a.m., Sat | Businessman stuck with daughter | Arrival time in Dhaka uncertain |
| 10:00 a.m., Sat | Bus journey extended | 50-minute trip took over 3 hours |
Authorities have called for patience and caution, particularly in the Daudkandi area, where congestion continues to pose a major challenge for travellers.