SHARIFUL ISLAM and SHAMIMA RITA

With four major entry and exit points of the capital already battered by ongoing construction work and incessant rain, transport operators and commuters fear the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha exodus could trigger severe traffic congestion.

Unless immediate temporary repairs are carried out at these key gateways connecting Dhaka with the northern, eastern and south-eastern districts, millions of holidaymakers may face prolonged suffering on the road, while the smooth movement of cattle-laden trucks into the capital could also be seriously hampered.

These four points are among 94 congestion-prone and high-risk locations identified by the Highway Police across seven major national highways, based on field reports and photographic evidence submitted by its personnel nationwide.

The most vulnerable stretches include Baipail, the Kanchan Bridge approach roads and parts of the Asian Highway, the Jatramura area near Kachpur Bridge under the SASEC project, and the Elenga bus stand area on the Dhaka–Tangail highway.

According to police sources, concerns over deteriorating road conditions were raised at meetings with the Road Transport and Highways Division on May 11 and the home ministry the following day.

The assessment by the Highway police identified 25 vulnerable Areas

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