A 21-kilometer traffic jam has formed on the Dhaka-Tangail and Chandra-Nabinagar highways in Gazipur as thousands of people travel home to celebrate Eid. The congestion began Wednesday afternoon after local factories declared holidays, prompting workers to leave the industrial area. Heavy rain failed to deter the rush, with long lines of vehicles stretching from Chandra and Kharajora to the Konabari flyover.

Passengers reported severe delays and rising transport fares. One traveler said the gridlock could extend to 50 kilometers if the situation continues, while another noted that a six-hour journey might now take twice as long. Many commuters complained about the lack of visible administrative action and limited police engagement despite officers being stationed near the Chandra control room and other points.

The situation has caused widespread frustration among travelers, with vehicles standing still for hours and passengers stranded in the rain. Transport owners have reportedly increased fares due to the prolonged congestion.

Nine coaches of the Nilshagar Express derailed in Santahar, Bogura, on Wednesday afternoon while traveling from Dhaka to Nilphamari’s Chilahati. Bangladesh Railway said it may take around 12 hours to complete the rescue operation. In the meantime, the railway authority has introduced a transshipment plan to help passengers from five northern districts reach their destinations.

According to Additional Director General (Operations) Mohammad Nazmul Islam, passengers from Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, and Joypurhat will need to change trains at the accident site until normal rail communication is restored. He acknowledged that the arrangement may cause inconvenience but said it is the only temporary solution available. A committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the derailment.

Fire Service officials reported that 47 people were rescued from the accident site and sent to Naogaon Sadar Hospital for treatment.

The results of the 49th central examination of Befaq-ul-Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh (Befaq) have been released, showing an overall pass rate of 80.95 percent. The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon at the Befaq auditorium in Kajla, Dhaka, by the organization’s secretary general, Maulana Mahfuzul Haque. The exams were held from January 17 to 24 across the country in seven levels, with 354,036 students participating. Of them, 286,591 passed.

According to the results, 53,500 students achieved Mumtaz (star marks), 55,747 obtained Jayyid Jiddan (first division), 65,673 received Jayyid (second division), and 111,671 earned Maqbul (third division). Detailed results have been published on Befaq’s official website.

Among the institutions, Jamia Islamia Darul Ulum Dilu Road Madrasa in Dhaka achieved notable success, securing 191 positions in the combined merit list, ranking second nationwide and first in Dhaka. Teachers, students, and parents expressed satisfaction and attributed the success to hard work, dedication, and cooperation.

A 12-kilometer traffic jam formed on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, as thousands of people traveled home to celebrate Eid. The congestion stretched from Safipur to Kharajora and from Jirani Bazar to Chandra, where heavy passenger crowds gathered at the Chandra Trimor Bus Stand, a key entry point to northern Bangladesh. Long-distance buses stopping to pick up passengers along the road worsened the situation, causing significant delays and discomfort for travelers.

Drivers and passengers reported that while other parts of the highway remained clear, traffic slowed dramatically near Chandra. A bus driver criticized the lack of discipline among transport workers and questioned the effectiveness of law enforcement in managing the area. Police officials from the Nawjor Highway Station said passenger pressure had been increasing for two days and that the slowdown was a common issue during the holiday rush. They added that officers were working on-site and that overall congestion was less severe than in previous years.

Authorities expect traffic to ease gradually as Eid travel peaks and disperses over the coming days.

Eid travel has begun in full swing on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway, with vehicle pressure increasing every hour. Despite the growing number of vehicles, no long queues or traffic jams have formed so far. Authorities have taken multiple measures to ensure smooth travel for homebound passengers. Over 800 police personnel are deployed along the highway, and officials believe the risk of accidents or vehicle breakdowns is minimal.

Tangail Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar said vehicles would keep moving without interruption. District Commissioner Sharifa Haque, during her inspection, stated that army personnel are also assisting the police, while mobile and medical teams are active on the route. In the past 24 hours, more than 47,000 vehicles crossed the Jamuna Bridge, compared to over 35,600 the previous day. Normally, 12,000 to 15,000 vehicles cross daily, indicating a two- to threefold increase.

To ease congestion, the Jamuna Bridge site office has installed 18 toll booths, including separate motorcycle lanes, and arranged two wreckers for quick accident response.

The Chattogram-bound lane of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Feni’s Rampur area will remain closed for four days from March 22 to 25 for bridge repair work, according to a public notice issued by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) on March 17. From March 26 to 30, traffic will move through a single lane. The department has advised several alternative routes for vehicles during the closure.

Local residents have expressed concern that most of the suggested alternative roads are internal city routes not suitable for heavy traffic, which could increase congestion inside the city. Transport operators also fear some disruption as the highway is one of the busiest routes during the Eid travel period.

RHD officials said the Rampur bridge was damaged in the 2024 floods and needs urgent repair. They chose the post-Eid period because traffic volume and heavy vehicle movement are relatively low then, minimizing potential disruption.

Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, a noted academic and researcher from the University of Dhaka, has formally taken charge as the 15th chairman of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC). He assumed office on Wednesday following a notification issued by the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education. Outgoing chairman Professor Dr. S.M.A. Faiz handed over responsibilities to the new chairman in the presence of UGC members, officials, and staff.

According to the University Grants Commission Act of 1973, Dr. Mamun Ahmed has been appointed for a four-year term effective from his joining date. The appointment was announced on March 16, 2026, and he will receive salary and benefits as per government regulations. Before this role, he served as Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dhaka since September 12, 2024, earning recognition for his capable leadership.

Dr. Ahmed, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, began his academic career in 1996 and has since held several key positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at Dhaka University.

The National Moon Sighting Committee will hold a meeting on Thursday to determine the date of Eid-ul-Fitr for the Hijri year 1447 and to observe the Shawwal moon. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram conference room and will be chaired by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad.

The Islamic Foundation has requested that anyone who sights the Shawwal moon anywhere in the country report it by calling 02-41053294, 02-226640510, or 02-223383397, or by informing the respective district commissioner or upazila executive officer. The committee’s decision will determine the official date of Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations across Bangladesh.

The meeting outcome will guide national preparations for Eid prayers and related religious observances once the moon sighting is confirmed.

Traffic congestion has intensified on the Dhaka–Mymensingh and Dhaka–Tangail highways in Gazipur as Eid holiday travel began on Wednesday morning. Increased passenger numbers and vehicles, along with frequent boarding and disembarking at station areas, have slowed movement in Tongi, College Gate, Board Bazar, and Chandna Chowrasta. Parking along the roadside has further narrowed lanes, worsening delays. The Chandna Trimore area also saw heavy pressure as vehicles from multiple routes converged there.

Police reported that many workers and residents left Gazipur on Tuesday night after garment factories began closing for Eid. About 98 percent of factories have paid wages and 99 percent have paid bonuses, according to the industrial police. Out of 2,834 registered garment factories, 2,790 completed wage payments and 2,816 paid Eid bonuses, while the remaining are expected to settle by Thursday.

Authorities said factory holidays are being staggered in four phases to manage traffic. However, with most workers already on leave, long queues and slow-moving traffic continue across major points including Tongi, Chandna, Chandra, and Mouchak areas.

A special launch service for passengers traveling to Barishal and Chandpur was inaugurated in Rupganj to ease congestion at Dhaka’s Sadarghat terminal and ensure safe, smooth river travel. The service was launched on Tuesday from the Shimulia Tourist Ghat near the Kanchan Bridge on the Shitalakkhya River by State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Rajib Ahsan.

According to the announcement, the trial service will continue until Eid-ul-Fitr, with plans for full-scale operation later. The Shimulia Ghat, directly connected to the 300-foot Purbachal Road, is expected to improve accessibility for passengers from Narayanganj, Gazipur, Uttara, and Narsingdi. Authorities said law enforcement will be deployed around the terminal to ensure passenger safety and prevent irregularities in ticketing and services.

Three launches will depart daily from Shimulia: two to Chandpur and one to Barishal. Free porter service for elderly and female passengers will be available until March 28, and wheelchair assistance will be provided for sick and physically challenged travelers.

The Committee for Correct Lunar Month Implementation has called on the Bangladesh government to announce the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal 1447 Hijri based on Islamic Sharia and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s lunar data. At a press conference held on March 17, 2026, at the National Press Club, the committee alleged that the National Moon Sighting Committee ignores Quranic, Sunnah, and astronomical principles, causing millions of Muslims to fast on Eid day mistakenly.

Mufti Rafiqul Islam, the committee’s secretary general, stated that according to Quranic verses and astronomical calculations, the new moon of Shawwal will be born at 7:23 a.m. on March 19, 2026, marking the start of Shawwal from the evening of that day and Eid-ul-Fitr on March 20, 2026. He criticized the national committee for following solar calendar practices while neglecting lunar calculations.

The committee urged the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Islamic Foundation, and the National Moon Sighting Committee to complete pending discussions and resolve the issue promptly to prevent religious errors during Eid observance.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Abu Zafar Khan, from the Department of Dawah and Islamic Studies at Islamic University, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Islamic Arabic University. He had been serving as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the same institution. The appointment was announced in a Ministry of Education notification issued on Monday and published on Tuesday. The notification also stated that the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam, has been relieved of his duties and permitted to return to his original post.

According to the notification, the appointment was made with the approval of the President and Chancellor under Section 11 of the Islamic Arabic University Act, 2013. Professor Khan’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor will last four years from the date of joining. He will receive the same salary and allowances as his current position, enjoy other benefits as per regulations, and must reside full-time on campus as the university’s chief executive officer. The President and Chancellor retain the authority to revoke the appointment at any time.

The appointment marks a leadership transition at the Islamic Arabic University, ensuring administrative continuity under the new Vice-Chancellor.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid festival, a large number of people are traveling home across Bangladesh, leading to increased passenger and vehicle pressure on the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat ferry routes. Despite the surge, no reports of passenger suffering or major disruptions have been recorded so far.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), along with the district and police administrations, is coordinating efforts to maintain normal ferry operations. According to BIWTC officials, 17 ferries are currently operating on the Paturia-Daulatdia route and 5 on the Aricha-Kazirhat route, while 35 launches have been deployed to ensure uninterrupted passenger movement. Additional law enforcement personnel have been stationed at the terminals to maintain order, and special measures have been taken to prevent traffic congestion.

Authorities noted that favorable weather and proper management have contributed to a comfortable Eid travel experience so far, though passenger numbers are expected to rise further in the coming days.

At the Chandra Trimor bus stand on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Kaliakoir, Gazipur, rows of vehicles were seen waiting for passengers heading home for Eid. The scene was observed around noon on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Drivers and passengers reported that buses were waiting to fill up before departure, with some operators citing fuel shortages as a reason for higher fares. Supervisors of several transport companies noted that passenger pressure was expected to increase from Tuesday evening through the following night.

A passenger from Thakurgaon said she was traveling early to avoid the last-minute rush, while a supervisor from Birganj Road in Dinajpur mentioned that tickets from Dhaka counters were already sold out, and roadside passengers might face double fares. Police officials, however, stated that staggered holidays at local factories would help reduce congestion and assured that security measures had been strengthened to ensure passenger safety.

Authorities expect manageable traffic flow despite the seasonal rush, with police maintaining vigilance to prevent any travel-related issues.

A seven-day holiday marking Eid-ul-Fitr began on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, prompting large numbers of people to leave Dhaka for their hometowns. Crowds surged at Kamalapur Railway Station, Gabtoli Bus Terminal, and Sadarghat Launch Terminal as families departed early in the morning. Reports indicated that most northbound trains left on schedule, except for the Nil Sagar Express, with passengers even riding on train roofs due to high demand. Some travelers alleged that transport operators were charging extra fares.

Kamalapur Station Master Anwar Hossain said all train tickets were sold online, and standing tickets were being issued, allowing 25 standing passengers per 100 seats. Bus terminals in Gabtoli and Kalyanpur also saw heavy passenger flow, with concerns over traffic congestion and fare hikes. Meanwhile, river routes to southern districts such as Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, and Barguna operated on schedule, and passengers expressed satisfaction with standard fares.

The first day of the holiday reflected both festive excitement and travel challenges as millions began their journey home for Eid celebrations.