Robberies have reportedly increased along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Cumilla, leaving passengers, drivers and other transport workers increasingly concerned about travelling at night. Local residents say at least six locations along the busy route have become recurring trouble spots, with organised robbery groups allegedly becoming active after 10pm.
According to local accounts, the groups target both the highway and connecting roads, particularly sections where traffic thins out at night. One reported tactic is to place obstacles such as tree trunks, iron rods, bricks or stones on the road to force vehicles to stop. In other cases, robbers allegedly follow buses, microbuses or private cars before attempting to intercept them at isolated points.
The reported incidents have raised concerns not only over the loss of cash and valuables but also over the safety of passengers and drivers. Travellers making long-distance journeys at night are said to be increasingly apprehensive, particularly when passing through relatively deserted stretches of the highway.
The Dhaka–Chattogram Highway is a major transport corridor, carrying large numbers of passenger and commercial vehicles between the capital and the country’s main port city. Any disruption to security along the route can therefore affect a wide range of travellers and transport operators.
Local residents identify several areas in Cumilla as particularly vulnerable. These include Raipur, Eliotganj and Gomta in Daudkandi upazila, Madhaiya in Chandina, and several sections of Sadar Dakshin upazila. According to residents, private cars, microbuses and people returning from abroad are among those particularly targeted.
Sources also claim that robbery groups operate from different points along the stretch between Daudkandi and Chauddagram. They allege that some members rent houses around transport stops and remain there before moving out at night. Eliotganj, Madhaiya, Chandina, Nimsar, Mainamati and Paduar Bazar have been specifically mentioned as areas where members of such groups are allegedly staying.
Transport workers say tackling the problem will require more than occasional patrols. They have called for regular security patrols along vulnerable sections of the highway and for authorities to identify locations where incidents are repeatedly reported. Increased surveillance at night could help detect suspicious movements before vehicles are intercepted.
They have also recommended better lighting at vulnerable points and the installation of closed-circuit cameras where feasible. Monitoring suspicious vehicles and individuals, combined with sustained law-enforcement operations against robbery groups, could help reduce the risk faced by highway users.
For passengers, the concern is particularly acute after dark, when traffic volumes decline on some sections and roadside areas can become quieter. Drivers and transport workers are consequently urging the authorities to strengthen visible security measures at identified hotspots and ensure a rapid response when incidents are reported.
With the Dhaka–Chattogram route remaining a vital link for passenger and commercial transport, restoring confidence among night-time travellers has become a pressing concern. Local people and transport operators say sustained patrols, improved surveillance and targeted action in vulnerable areas are needed to make the highway safer for those who depend on it.
