Emergency repairs to a crack and large pothole near Ashariar Char Bridge in Narayanganj triggered severe congestion on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Friday. With one Dhaka-bound lane closed from Friday dawn until Saturday dawn, the traffic jam spread about 40 kilometres, from Ashariar Char to Elliotগঞ্জ in Cumilla, by around 2am.

Long-distance bus passengers, drivers and freight workers faced major disruption, with some passengers reporting they had been stuck in one place for nearly five hours. A passenger named Nur Mohammad, travelling from Feni to his workplace in Dhaka, said he had been stranded in the Gazaria area for more than three hours and was suffering discomfort in the heat. Sick people, women, children and elderly passengers were among those facing particular hardship.

Roads and Highways Department officials said recent heavy rainfall had created potholes at several points on the highway, creating risks and disrupting vehicle movement. Divisional Engineer Al Razi said micro-concrete had been poured over a pothole spanning about five metres and would need at least 24 hours to harden. Highway police said they were working to control the congestion.