Auto-rickshaw drivers block Dhaka–Mymensingh highway for 2.5 hours

Auto-rickshaw drivers blocked the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur for around two and a half hours this morning, causing severe disruption and suffering for commuters.

The blockade began around 8:00am in Cotton Research Centre area under Sreepur Police Station.

More than 300 auto-rickshaw drivers gathered and shut down both lanes of the highway, demanding permission to operate on the highway and an end to alleged police harassment.

Traffic on the highway remained suspended until around 10:30am, when vehicular movement gradually resumed following discussions with the administration, said Md Kamruzzaman, a police official at Sreepur Police Station.

During the blockade, long-distance buses, local buses and CNG-run vehicles were unable to move, leading to long tailbacks on both sides of the highway.

Alam Mia, a passenger travelling to Dhaka, said he was forced to get off a bus at the Maona intersection.

“I have urgent work in Dhaka. I was dropped off at Maona and walked as far as the Gorgoria Master Bari area. I am in extreme distress,” he said.

Environmental activist Khorshed Alam, who was also stranded on the highway, said commuters—particularly garment workers—faced acute difficulties due to the stoppage.

Kamruzzaman said traffic began moving again around 10:30am after talks between the protesters and the authorities.