Photo: BSS

CUMILLA, May 26, 2026 (BSS) – The number of homebound travelers on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway has started increasing ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. However, unlike previous years, no major traffic congestion or severe suffering has been reported so far this year.
 
Highway Police reported that no significant disruption was observed on the Dhaka-Noakhali, Dhaka-Chandpur, and Cumilla-Sylhet roads either, in addition to the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
 
Police said the movement of trucks, lorries, and covered vans on the highway has been restricted from May 25 to May 31 to ensure a hassle-free Eid journey. Only vehicles carrying essential goods are being allowed to operate on the highways. Additionally, 25 traffic-prone points have been identified, and extra measures have been taken there.
 
Sources at the Highway Police said long traffic jams usually occur at the Meghna-Gomti Bridge toll plaza in Daudkandi, but no congestion has been reported since Monday due to the activation of five additional lanes there. From Daudkandi in Cumilla to Feni — a stretch of about 109 kilometers — no major traffic jam was observed from afternoon until night. However, traffic moved slowly from Cumilla Cantonment to Alekhar Char Bishwa Road.
 
During visits, it was observed that Gauripur, Amirabad, Madhaiya, Chandina, and Nimsar Bazaar in the Cumilla section — usually known as congestion-prone areas — also experienced normal traffic flow this year.
 
Tofayel Ahmed, a driver of an Asia Aircon bus, said that due to consecutive holidays, passengers did not leave Dhaka all at once. Although there was some congestion inside Dhaka, there was little suffering after entering the highway. “I reached Cumilla from Dhaka in two and a half hours,” he said.
 
Alamgir Hossain, president of the Safe Road Alliance (NiScha) in Daudkandi upazila, said people are returning home in relative comfort this year. However, vehicle pressure may increase further as the night progresses.
 
Iqbal Bahar, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daudkandi Highway Police Station, said traffic flow on the highway remains normal. No major traffic jams have occurred anywhere so far. However, there is a possibility of increased vehicle pressure at night.
 
Mohammad Shahinur Alam Khan, Superintendent of Police of the Cumilla Region Highway Police, said nearly 1,000 police personnel are on duty across the region. No reports of major traffic congestion have been received so far. He expressed hope that travelers would not face major suffering over the next two days either.