Dhaka-Aricha highway blocked for 5 hours over road closure

Traffic on the Dhaka-Aricha highway was brought to a standstill for five hours on Wednesday as hundreds of residents from Golra village staged a protest, demanding the reopening of a blocked road in Saturia upazila of Manikganj district.

The demonstration caused severe disruption, leading to a 10km long traffic jam on both sides of the highway, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

According to witnesses, the villagers took to the streets around 11:00 am, alleging that two companies—Tarasima Apparels and Peyal Engineering and Construction Limited—had unlawfully closed off a vital local road by erecting a brick wall fence.

The protesters also staged a sit-in in front of the main gates of the two factories, demanding immediate action.

Shahinul Islam, officer-in-charge of Saturia Police Station, said efforts were underway to mediate the situation and find a resolution.