Md. Osman Gani , Upazila Correspondent, Chandina || The rush of homebound people ahead of Eid has triggered severe gridlocks on the Dhaka-Chattagram highway. For the last three days, the Cumilla section of the highway has been witnessing intense traffic congestion, which worsens as the day progresses. Vehicles have come to a near-standstill on a long stretch from Putia in Eliotganj, Daudkandi, to the Meghna-Gomti Bridge. Passengers, drivers, and commuters are facing immense suffering, being stranded for hours in the sweltering heat. Since Thursday morning, a kilometer-long tailback has been visible on the Dhaka-bound lane of the highway.According to local residents and stranded passengers, traffic had already been sluggish in this area over the past few days due to the increasing pressure of homebound holidaymakers. However, the situation deteriorated sharply from Thursday dawn. The influx of long-haul buses, microbuses, private cars, and freight trucks caused the tailback to stretch even further. Many passengers set out early in the morning to avoid the traffic, yet failed to escape it. Women, children, and elderly passengers are the worst sufferers due to being trapped in public transport for hours.Highway police stated that the slow pace of toll collection at the Meghna-Gomti Bridge, combined with an overwhelming volume of vehicles, is the primary cause of the gridlock. Additionally, an accident involving a truck disrupted traffic flow early in the morning, though police managed to clear it quickly. Multiple teams of highway police are working relentlessly to restore order and ease the congestion. According to police officials, despite the heavy pressure of vehicles in the morning, the traffic situation is gradually returning to normal as the day progresses.