-Traffic on roads and highways increased
-Wholesalers took goods from largest Nimsa wholesale markets to different places
-law enforcers on highways also noticeable
When the country came to a standstill in the anti-quota movement, the government imposed a curfew in Cumilla like the rest of the country to control law enforcers. In this situation, the country stands still. Public and private offices, courts, businesses, educational institutions, and traffic were all closed.
However, on the last two days of the curfew in Cumilla, the curfew system was implemented keeping in mind the office time and permission was given to open offices, courts, various banks, and business establishments.
Cumilla was not exceptional when the anti-quota movement started across the country recently. Cumilla University, Cumilla Victoria Government College, thousands of students from various educational institutions erupted in protest. The lifeline of the country known as the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, was disrupted by protesting at several places and stopping the vehicles.
At one point, when terrorist activities spread across the country, the government issued a curfew with section 144 from Friday night on July 19 to control the situation. After that for the first 2-3 days, the curfew was relaxed in a limited way, but public and private offices-courts, educational institutions, markets, and long-distance vehicles were closed, practically like other places in the country, people's life in Cumilla was at a standstill.
Last Tuesday night, various mass media and private TV channels announced the relaxation of Wednesday's curfew from 9 am to 6 pm, and public life returned to normality. Because of this, people's busyness started from the morning of the last two days. As the day progressed, the traffic on the roads and highways increased, and the busyness of people was like any other day.
Buses with passengers left from Shashogacha, Chowkbazar, and Jangalia Antjela bus terminals of Cumilla city to various upazilas including the capital Dhaka, Sylhet, Chandpur, and Feni. Besides, many buses returned with passengers from these destinations. The wholesalers took the goods from one of the country's largest Nimsa wholesale markets to different places.
Attendance was fairly normal as government offices and courts were open. People who were blocked for 5 consecutive days tried to return to normal activities. Buses were seen plying the highway to various long-distance destinations including Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Cox's Bazar, Dhaka-Feni, Dhaka-Chandpur, and Dhaka-Noakhali. During curfew relaxation, various vehicles including trucks and covered vans are running to various destinations with goods. As a result, life was normal in the city of Cumilla, and there was a fair amount of activity along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
When asked about the matter, Kamal Khandkar, General Secretary of Cumilla (2026) Paribahan Sramik Sangathan said, "We are driving according to the instructions of the district administration. On Wednesday, as usual, passenger buses from Cumilla to Dhaka, Chandpur, and Noakhali operated without any problem till yesterday.
He also said that the presence of law and order forces on highways and regional highways was also noticeable.
ZH