Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj 

A 15-kilometer long traffic jam has been  formed on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, stretching from Kanchpur to the Meghna Bridge toll plaza in the Narayanganj section. On Saturday morning (April 5), both the Dhaka-bound and Chattogram-bound lanes were heavily congested along this stretch.According to the highway police, the massive influx of people traveling to Langalbandh for a religious ritual on the banks of the Brahmaputra River is the main reason behind this gridlock. Commuters, especially those heading to work, have been severely affected by the traffic.Sources report that at several key points like Madanpur, Jangal, and Langalbandh devotees are getting off vehicles to cross the road on foot, which is contributing to the jam. The number of vehicles on the highway increased several times starting from early morning due to the arrival of pilgrims.On-site observations revealed that many people are walking long distances to reach their workplaces, while some are turning back due to the intense traffic. Elderly people and women with urgent needs are facing the most hardship. Meanwhile, reports of inflated fares by public transport vehicles have also surfaced.Monir Hossain, an office worker, said, I got on a bus at Kanchpur intersection 30 minutes ago to go to Malibagh, but the traffic is so bad that the bus hasn’t moved at all.Another commuter, Shyamoli Akter, shared, I’ve been sitting on the bus for a long time. I have no idea how long this traffic will last.Kazi Wahid Morshed, OC,  Kanchpur Highway Police Station, stated, “Due to the Eid holidays, there's a surge of home-bound travelers. On top of that, a large number of devotees are attending the Langalbandh holy bath, increasing vehicle pressure and causing the traffic jam. Multiple police teams are currently working on the highway.