Public transport services in Tangail are still being operated from a terminal built in the 1980s, despite a severe lack of space and modern infrastructure. Over a decade ago, the mayor of Tangail Municipality declared the terminal’s passenger shed and the association building unusable. Yet, these same dilapidated facilities continue to serve as the district's main bus terminal.
Nearly three years ago, approximately 4.94 acres of government land were allocated for the construction of a modern bus terminal in Tangail, near the Rabna Bypass. The lease agreement, signed on 4 July 2022, valued at Tk 1,01,000, grants Tangail Municipality a 30-year lease on the land. However, construction has yet to begin.
Tangail, the largest district in Dhaka Division by area and second-largest by population, is considered the ‘gateway to North Bengal’. It plays a key role in national connectivity as vehicles from 23 northern districts travel through the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway. Despite this strategic significance, Tangail lacks a modern bus terminal.
The so-called "new bus terminal" in the Deola and Kodalia areas was originally developed in the 1980s. Over the years, the volume of vehicles and passengers has increased manyfold. Currently, traffic congestion is a constant issue due to inadequate space, which causes severe delays for both passengers and vehicles. Thousands commute daily from different upazilas to the district town for work or treatment.
The terminal is situated near Tangail General Hospital and Tangail Medical College Hospital, both of which serve large numbers of patients daily. The frequent traffic congestion at the terminal makes it extremely difficult for ambulances and patients to reach these hospitals on time, causing distress and, in some cases, life-threatening delays.
Khondoker Iqbal Hossain, former president of the Tangail District Bus-Coach-Minibus Owners’ Association, stated that around 800 vehicles are registered under the association. Of these, 350-400 operate from the central terminal, with the remainder using various upazila terminals. The terminal also functions as an unofficial stand for trucks, auto-rickshaws, and battery-operated rickshaws due to the absence of separate designated spaces, worsening the space shortage and leading to persistent gridlock.
Mominul Islam Lavlu, General Secretary of the Tangail Transport Workers’ Union, noted that the terminal was declared abandoned a decade ago. Despite this, no renovation or alternative has been provided. Transport owners, workers, and commuters alike are eagerly awaiting the construction of a modern terminal.
Yusuf Ali Mia, Head of the Bengali Department at Major General Mahmudul Hasan Ideal College, who lives near the terminal, shared his daily struggle with traffic congestion. His usual commute takes an extra 40 minutes. He recounted how a pregnant woman once gave birth at the terminal due to traffic delays. He believes that a properly planned, modern terminal is urgently needed to resolve the issues.
A local pedestrian, requesting anonymity, pointed out that a makeshift vegetable market has grown on the northern side of the terminal, occupying public roads and further compounding congestion. He urged the administration to remove the unauthorised market to prevent potential accidents.
Mohammad Shihab Raihan, Administrator of Tangail Municipality and Deputy Director of Local Government, confirmed that the tender process for land filling has been completed. Construction work for the modern terminal will commence soon after this phase is completed.
