The mad rush of people out of Dhaka and adjacent areas for their village homes has increased pressure on Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge highway.

Despite the suspension of long-distance public transport, different kind of vehicles including trucks, private cars, pickup vans, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles have been seen plying the Dhaka-Tangail highway.

The result has been unprecedented traffic on the Bangabandhu Bridge as homebound people left the capital in large numbers, defying the government-imposed travel ban. As a result, vehicles are moving at a slow speed.

Hygiene is not being maintained as people were travelling in a congested manner, returning home despite the risk of infection.

Yasir Arafat, in charge of the Elenga Highway police outpost, said that the pressure suddenly mounted on the Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge Highway following the suspension of the Shimulia-Banglabazar and Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services.