Repair work on the Dhaka-bound lane of Ashariar Char Bridge in Narayanganj has caused severe congestion on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. On Saturday morning, vehicles were queued from Burichang in Cumilla to the Meghna toll plaza, leaving passengers stranded for hours. Patients and travellers heading abroad were among those facing the greatest hardship.

Road officials said a large pothole had developed on part of the bridge’s Dhaka-bound lane, prompting repairs from 11am on Friday because of accident concerns. One of the highway’s two lanes was closed during the work, forcing traffic through the remaining lane. Heavy nighttime traffic worsened the bottleneck, with disruption spreading towards Chandina and the Meghna toll plaza.

Drivers said many vehicles were nearly stationary for long periods, affecting freight operators and long-distance passengers. Some passengers got out and sought CNG-powered or battery-run autorickshaws to reach Dhaka, with fares rising sharply. Highway police said multiple teams were working continuously to restore normal traffic flow and manage the congestion.