Narayanganj, Feb. 24 -- For thousands of residents in Narayanganj, a short journey across town has become an exhausting daily trial.

What was once a 10-minute commute now routinely stretches beyond an hour, as chronic traffic congestion, pothole-ridden roads and ongoing development works converge to choke the city's main arteries.

From dawn until late at night, vehicles inch forward in long, unmoving lines, a scene that has become all too familiar to commuters, students and workers alike.

The situation has worsened in recent weeks, residents say, as the Narayanganj City Corporation presses ahead with a deep drainage renovation project.

Several key roads have been closed or narrowed, compounding pressure on alternative routes already s...