Heavy Traffic on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway

The seven-day Eid al-Fitr holiday commenced today, with thousands of homebound travellers departing from the capital, Dhaka, to visit their families across the country. Despite the anticipated surge in traffic, authorities report that the 104-kilometre stretch of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway passing through Comilla continues to experience relatively smooth traffic flow.

Since 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, while congestion has not yet reached critical levels, vehicle density on the highway has noticeably increased, particularly on lanes heading towards Chattogram. Drivers and passengers alike have expressed relief that this year’s Eid journey is far less stressful compared to previous years, when severe traffic jams often caused significant delays and discomfort.

Dawudkandi Highway Police Officer-in-Charge, Iqbal Bahar Mozumdar, stated, “We have treated this year’s Eid travel as a challenge. Our teams are stationed on the highway 24 hours a day to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey for homebound passengers. Traffic is currently normal, although vehicle density has risen, particularly in the Chattogram-bound lanes.”

Abul Kalam, a driver for Comilla Asian Transport, said, “Despite the start of the Eid holidays, the highway remains free of traffic jams. I managed to reach Comilla from Dhaka in just two hours and fifteen minutes. With active police monitoring, I expect that traffic will remain smooth.”

Passenger Kamal Hosne added, “Usually we leave our homes with an extra two to four hours to account for delays. This year, however, the journey has been exceptional—pleasant and almost entirely free of hardship. I reached Paduar Bazar on Bishwaroad in Comilla within two and a half hours by Hanif Transport. Thanks to the police and local administration for ensuring such a smooth journey.”

Highway police have identified 27 key locations along the Comilla-Chattogram route where monitoring is prioritised to reduce passenger inconvenience and prevent criminal incidents. These areas include major bus stands, markets, and bridge points. The table below lists the locations under heightened surveillance:

Superintendent of Police for Comilla Region, Shaheenur Alam, confirmed that several meetings with transport owners and workers were held in advance to reduce passenger distress and preempt traffic congestion. Congestion-prone areas have been identified and measures implemented to ensure smooth movement.

Khondakar Golam Mostofa, Executive Engineer at the Roads and Highways Department in Comilla, added, “Construction work along critical sections has been temporarily suspended, and lanes are fully open to traffic. We anticipate that homebound passengers will face minimal inconvenience along this national highway this Eid.”

Overall, this coordinated effort by law enforcement and road authorities aims to deliver a safer, faster, and more comfortable Eid journey along one of the nation’s busiest routes, ensuring passengers can return home without significant delays or hardship.