The Dhaka-Tangail Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge highway that has connected 22 northern districts with the capital Dhaka and few other districts of the country is now in bad shape after recent downpour.  
The condition may cause serious gridlock on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitir. At least 65 kilometres of distance from Gorai to Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge East will put heavy strain on both transports and home-bound passengers.
The important highway has developed numerous potholes and cracks causing risky ride for the users.  The condition of the highway turned for the worse with water logging at many places dotted by holes.  The movements of the vehicular traffics come to snail’s pace and are creating gridlock for hours on the highway. A two-hour journey from Dhaka-Tangail sometimes takes 6-8 hours. The highway witnessed many fatal accidents claiming at least 20 lives in the recent past due to its pitiable condition.
Sources said about 30000 transports ply through the BJMB that connects 22 northern districts with Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.  Besides these, a large number of vehicles ply on Dhaka-Tangail highway from Jamalpur, Mynmensingh, Sherpur districts.  pineapples, jackfruits of Madhupur Zone, fertiliser from Jamuna fertiliser factory are also transported through the highway. It is expected that the
pressure on the highway will increase before Eid.
Roads and Highway Department started repairing the damaged highway a week ahead of Eid.  Meer Lutfor Rahman secretary of Tangail Bus-minibus Sramik Samity expressed his fear that the ‘sub-standard’ repair works will be damaged by slight rainfall and heavy pressure of the transports.
Driver of Suvessa Paribahan Abdus Samad said there is only one wrecker under Tangail police. The single wrecker is unable to cope with situation along the 75 km of Dhaka-Bangabandhu Bridge highway and 70 km zonal highway from Tangail to Mymensingh. Any transport that breaks down on the highway will cause serious congestion unless the vehicle is quickly removed.
Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, Police Superindent of Tangail, said he sought cooperation of transport owners and workers’ leaders in Tangail at a meeting on June 30. He said an additional 500 policemen will be deployed at important places along the 65-km highway to ease congestion and smooth running of the vehicular traffic round the clock.   
Engineer Noor-E-Alam executive engineer of Tangail Roads and Highway Department said rainy season is not suitable for repair work.
The highway has been badly damaged following the recent downpour. Work on a durable repair will start after rainy season, he added.