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Published : 17 Mar 2026, 05:21 PM
Traffic pressure has increased on the Cumilla stretch of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway as people begin heading home for Eid, slowing vehicular movement in several areas though severe gridlock has yet to form.
Highway Police have deployed 80 Rover Scout members alongside regular personnel to help keep the 104km Cumilla section of the highway free of congestion.
The volunteers will work at eight points in the district to help ease disorder on the road and assist homebound passengers.
On Tuesday afternoon, Cumilla Highway Police Superintendent Shahinur Alam Khan distributed safety gear and jackets to the Rover Scout members at the Moynamoti Highway Crossing Police Station compound.
He later met the volunteers in the Amtali area of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway to brief them on their duties.
“Alongside regular police personnel on the highway, additional officers are working this Eid season,” Shahinur said.
“In addition, 80 Rover Scout members will be deployed on the Cumilla stretch of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.”
He added that the Rover Scout members would remain in the field from Tuesday until eight days after Eid.
Although the official Eid holidays have not yet begun, crowds of homebound travellers were seen at different points on the highway on Tuesday.
Slow-moving traffic and clusters of vehicles were seen in Daudkandi, Gouripur, Amirabad, Eliotganj, Madhaiya, Chandina, Nimsar, Amtali, Paduar Bazar, Suagazi, Mia Bazar and Chauddagram.
While congestion has not yet become severe, passengers in several areas complained of being charged extra fares.
On some buses on the Dhaka-Cumilla route, especially those taking passengers from the roadside rather than terminals, fares were reportedly higher than the standard rate.
Many buses boarding passengers from terminals, however, were charging regular fares.
Arifur Rahman, a university student travelling from Dhaka to Cumilla, said passengers boarding from terminals with tickets were paying the normal fare.
“But buses that are not issuing tickets from the terminal are charging extra. There is little point arguing with them on the road,” he said.
Nishita Majumdar, a passenger travelling from Cumilla to Dhaka, said bus operators were asking for extra fares.
“The administration should monitor this. Otherwise, ordinary people will suffer,” she said.
