DHAKA: Amid non-stop blockade, called by BNP-led alliance, a 30-kilometre long traffic jam from Khorpai Mill gate to Daudkandi of Comilla on Dhaka-Chittagong highway has caused sufferings to hundreds of passengers.

Highway police said this traffic jam has been created basically due to increased pressure of passenger buses, goods-laden trucks-covered vans, private cars ignoring blockade on Friday after ending of a 5-day hartal.

The construction of four-lane highway is another cause of the long gridlock of traffic, police added.

Masud Alam, resident of Chandina’s Dhansiri area, said that he left the capital for Comilla on 5:00am Saturday. Though, he reached Daudkandi in 40-minute, the bus carrying him took six more hours to cross only 30-kilometre from Daudkandi-Chandina due to the gridlock.

Iliotganj highway police outpost in-charge Asaduzzaman told banglanews that the unplanned crossings of Madhaiya bazaar is one of the main reasons of the nagging traffic jam in 30-kilometre area on highway since Friday.

Moinamoti highway police outpost in-charge Sohel Ahmed said the movement of vehicles stretched from Alekhar char in Sadar upazila to Khorpai area remained normal but very slow due to pressure of a huge number of vehicles on the highway.

Higher authorities were informed about the crossings. The traffic jam will reduce soon after renovation of the crossings, he added. 

BDST: 1610 HRS, FEB 21, 2015