Mustafa Kamal Nannu, Tangail correspondent :
Despite receiving nearly five acres of government land over three years ago, construction of the long-awaited modern bus terminal in Tangail has yet to begin, causing immense suffering to commuters due to severe congestion in the existing outdated facility.
The current bus terminal in the Deola-Kodalia area, built in the 1980s, was declared abandoned by the municipality over a decade ago. However, transport services continue to operate from the same dilapidated structure, which lacks space and infrastructure to handle the growing number of vehicles and passengers.
Due to the space shortage, hundreds of buses, trucks, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, battery-powered rickshaws, and other vehicles crowd into the terminal area daily, turning it into an unofficial stand for all types of transport. As a result, traffic often spills onto the main roads, leading to gridlocks that stretch for kilometers.
Commuters, particularly those seeking medical treatment at the nearby 250-bed Tangail General Hospital and Tangail Medical College Hospital, face extreme delays. “Due to traffic near the terminal, it takes me 40 extra minutes to reach college every day,” said Yusuf Ali Miah, Head of the Bengali Department at Major General Mahmudul Hasan Ideal College. He also mentioned an incident where a pregnant woman gave birth on the road because her vehicle was stuck in traffic near the terminal.
In July 2022, Tangail Municipality received a 30-year lease of 4.94 acres of government land next to the Rabna Bypass to build a modern terminal. However, no visible progress has been made since. Locals allege a lack of urgency and proper planning.
Khondoker Iqbal Hossain, former president of the Tangail Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association, stated that about 800 vehicles are affiliated with the district’s transport network, with around 400 buses operating from the city terminal. “Without proper space and organization, congestion is inevitable,” he said.
Mominul Islam Lavlu, General Secretary of the District Transport Workers’ Union, echoed the need for a modern terminal and criticized the authorities for neglecting the matter for over a decade.
Locals also pointed to an unplanned kitchen market that has sprung up near the terminal, further reducing road space. “Shops are set up almost on the road. A major accident could happen any day,” said a pedestrian who wished to remain anonymous.
Tangail Municipal Administrator and Deputy Director of Local Government Md Shihab Raihan said, “A tender has already been floated for land filling. Once the process is complete, construction of the terminal will begin soon.”
