Homebound pressure mounted on the Dhaka–Mymensingh and Dhaka–Tangail highways today as around 45 percent of Gazipur’s garment factories went on Eid holidays with three days left before Eid-ul-Azha.
Confirming the information, Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Md Amzad Hossain, said tThe phased holiday schedule will see another 45 percent of factories close tomorrow, 7 percent on Wednesday, and the remaining 3 percent staying open.
Continuous rainfall since 11:30am worsened conditions, causing knee-deep waterlogging in Bhogra area and slowing traffic across the highway network.
Passenger buses moved slowly from Tongi Station Road to College Gate, while commuters waited roadside for long periods unable to find transport.
Nurun Nahar, 45, waiting with her family and luggage outside Dhaka Imperial Hospital at Tongi Hossain Market, said she had been unable to board a bus to Mymensingh despite waiting a long time.
Driver Sharif Hossain of Shawon Paribahan said congestion had been heavy since morning and was likely to worsen through the afternoon.
Traffic Inspector Md Sofiq, on duty in the Tongi area, confirmed slow vehicle movement from Tongi to College Gate, attributing it to both the rain and the onset of factory closures.
Of Gazipur Metropolitan area’s 2,674 factories, the staggered closure aims to distribute the exodus — though pressure on roads is already severe.
Konabari-Naojor Highway Police Station OC Sawgatul Alam said under normal conditions around 200,000 people use the Chandra route daily, serving 23 districts. During Eid, that figure swells to between 15 and 20 lakh.
To manage the rush, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said 18 executive magistrates will be deployed at key points including Gazipur Chowrasta, Bhogra, and Chandra, supported by BGB, Ansar, and police.
A dedicated 10-member BGB team will be stationed at Gazipur Chowrasta. Sixty additional double-decker air-conditioned BRTC buses have also been arranged to ease travel for workers and general passengers.