Passengers heading to their hometowns to cast votes blocked a key highway at Ashulia near Dhaka on Tuesday, protesting at alleged overcharging by bus operators ahead of the national election, police and witnesses said.

The protesters blocked the Nabinagar–Chandra highway at the Baipail area of Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, from around 8:00am, disrupting traffic on the busy industrial corridor.

The blockade was lifted at about 10:00am, allowing vehicles to resume movement.

Protesters said bus operators were charging around double as garment factory workers began travelling to their villages after Monday marking the last working day before the election.

‘They are taking advantage of the election rush,’ said Arfin Jahan, a passenger travelling to Magura. ‘The usual fare is Tk 500 to Tk 600, but now they are asking for Tk 1,200.’

‘After 17 years, there is an election atmosphere. We demand immediate enforcement of fair fares and government attention,’ she said.

Garment worker Latiful Islam said many factory employees were returning home to vote but could not afford the increased fares.

‘Bus drivers and helpers are demanding double fares,’ he said. ‘I am going to Rajshahi. The fare used to be Tk 500, but today they are demanding more than Tk 1,000.’

He warned that excessive fares could prevent voters from reaching their hometowns ahead of the polls.

Sheikh Shahjahan, officer-in-charge of Savar Highway Police Station, said that traffic congestion occurred due to the large number of passengers gathering on the road.

‘There was heavy passenger pressure, and people took to the highway’, he said, adding, ‘Traffic is normal now.’

The 13rd parliamentary election and referendum is scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026.