People are returning home with relief as the holidays are a little longer this Eid, and the communication system has improved, Photo : RASHEDUZZAMAN
Every year as Eid approaches, thousands of people living in Dhaka flock to different exit points of the capital to leave for their ancestral homes. This trend continues this year, but the familiar image of suffering has changed. People are returning home with relief as the holidays are a little longer this Eid, and the communication system has improved.
Such information was obtained by visiting different bus terminals, railway stations, and launch terminals in the capital, as well as gathering information from various highways across the country. Usually, a few days before Eid, there is overcrowding of passengers at Gabtoli Bus Terminal in the capital. However, this time, the familiar picture is not seen, as homebound people are leaving Dhaka with relief.
At Gabtoli Bus Terminal, it was observed that passengers are leaving Dhaka by bus for different destinations. Unlike other times when there is pressure on passengers around Eid, this time there is no such pressure. Aqib Shahriar, a passenger going to Jhenaidah, mentioned that compared to other times, the passenger pressure at Gabtoli is less. “Since we are traveling with family, we booked tickets in advance. So far, no problems have arisen. Hopefully, we will be able to return home safely and share the joy of Eid with our relatives,” he said.
Mehdi Shaon, a passenger heading to Kushtia, mentioned that the Eid holiday mood has started a little earlier this year due to the availability of a long holiday. Consequently, there is no excess pressure of vehicles on the road. Those involved in the transport business said that this time the number of passengers is less than expected. Many passengers on this route are now returning home via Padma Bridge, especially people from the 17 districts of the southern region. Hence, bus tickets are easily available at this time, and long-distance buses are leaving from Gabtoli as per schedule.
Bipul Ahmed, the counter manager of Hanif Enterprises on the Dhaka-Kushtia route, informed The Daily Messenger that passengers from southern regions, including Khulna, Barisal, and Gopalganj, used to travel home via Gabtoli. However, since the Padma Bridge opened, people from these districts no longer come to Gabtoli. They are now traveling via Sayedabad through the Padma Bridge. Consequently, Gabtoli Bus Terminal does not experience its usual crowd.
A police control room has been opened at Gabtoli Bus Terminal to ensure the safety of passengers during the Eid journey. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) vigilance teams and owner association booths were also observed. A similar situation was noted at Mohakhali and Sayedabad bus terminals in the capital.
Sadarghat does not have its usual crowd either. Typically overcrowded, the Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka usually experiences a surge of passengers at this time. However, on Sunday, the pressure of passengers was not observed here. Bhola-bound launch passenger Rakib Hasan said, “We do not have direct vehicle connection with Bhola, so we opt for the launch. However, Sadarghat is not as crowded as before, as passengers from Barisal now travel by bus through the Padma Bridge."
Tanzil Ahmed, who is heading to Barisal, mentioned, “I am going home to share the joy of Eid with my family. Traveling by bus with kids is a bit difficult, so I am taking the launch. However, most people in our area now travel to Dhaka by bus. With the Padma Bridge, we can reach home in three hours.”
Those involved in the launch business at Sadarghat expressed concern over the decreasing number of passengers. Everyone from the southern region is now traveling home via the Padma Bridge by bus. Some people still opt for the launch, but sustaining the business might become challenging if this trend continues. Zakir Hossain, Manager of Sundarban Navigation, said that while the number of passengers is decreasing, there might be an increase in pressure if other industries, including garment factories, are closed. It is evident that there is no longer the same passenger pressure as before the Padma Bridge.
However, a slightly different picture is seen at Kamalapur Railway Station compared to buses and launches. A huge crowd of passengers is present here. Most trains leave on schedule, with one or two exceptions. Previously, passengers had to wait for hours at the station platform for the train, but that is no longer the case. At Kamalapur Railway Station on Monday, it was observed that passengers are being checked for security purpose at the entrance if there is any doubt.
Obaidul Haque, a passenger of the Kishoreganj Express train on platform number 1, mentioned that the ticket had already been booked, he had obtained a seat, and the passenger pressure was less. “The train seems to be leaving on schedule. If so, it is very good, we can travel comfortably,” he said.
Manager of Kamalapur Railway Station, Mohammad Masud Sarwar, said that two out of four trains left from Kamalapur Railway Station 20 minutes or half an hour late, but most of the trains left on time.
RAB’s Legal and Media Wing Director, Commander Khandaker Al Moin, warned the ticket black market syndicate and said that ongoing activities, including intelligence operations, will continue at various railway stations around Eid. Strict legal action will be taken against any brokers found to have caused suffering to the passengers.
Meanwhile, traffic pressure on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway is reported to be low. As a result, homebound people are going home without difficulty. There is no traffic jam anywhere on the highway. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daudkandi Highway Police Station, Shahinul Alam, informed that there was less traffic on the highway on Monday compared to the previous day. There is no traffic congestion anywhere on the highway.
Additional Superintendent of Police of Highway Police Comilla Region, Shamsul Alam Sarkar, said that there is no traffic jam on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. People can easily return home as the bus pressure is low. The administration’s coordinated security system is working to ensure a smooth Eid journey for people.
The Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu bridge highway is also free of traffic jams. Passengers and drivers are moving through this highway without encountering traffic congestion this year. Even a few days before Eid, buses are running smoothly on the highway, which had previously caused extreme suffering for drivers.
North Bengal-bound transports leaving Dhaka are running non-stop. Consequently, people are crossing the Bangabandhu Bridge easily without encountering any suffering or traffic jams. Similarly, Dhaka-bound traffic from North Bengal is also moving at a normal speed. Due to the joint efforts of the district administration and the police administration, everyone is returning home with relief.
The traffic pressure is gradually increasing on the highway of Sirajganj, the gateway to North Bengal. However, despite the increasing vehicle pressure, there is still no slowdown or traffic jam anywhere on this highway. All types of vehicles are moving at a normal speed, and the police are active across the highway.
Sirajganj Traffic Police Inspector (Administration), Md Zafar Ullah Rubel, mentioned that the pressure of vehicles on the highway is gradually increasing. However, traffic is quite normal. The pressure is expected to increase, but this time there is no possibility of a traffic jam on the Sirajganj highway.
Messenger/Sajib
