People are moving out from Dhaka through all its outlets — aboard buses, trains and launches — to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in their native places with their loved ones.
The outflow began on Thursday, and by Saturday most of the streets in Dhaka were almost empty.
The roads were almost free of traffic, barring only a few places where large shopping malls are located.
Friday and Saturday were weekends. The only working day before Eid was Sunday. Eid holidays will last from Monday to Wednesday, or if Ramadan lasts 30 days, till Thursday.
Most jobholders therefore have taken a leave on Sunday to enjoy a nine-day long leave.
However, garment factories and government offices are open on Sunday, which means a lot of people will be heading home on Sunday afternoon.
As schools have closed a long time ago, a number of people have already sent their families home.
On Saturday, our correspondents went around launch, bus and train stations to find people braving the crowd with their families to head home.
They did not complain of any unpleasant experience or harassment.
Kamalapur Railway Station
Passengers thronged the Kamalapur Railway Station to catch their trains. Porters spent a busy time carrying luggage.
Abdul Hakim Mandal, heading to Brahmanbaria, said, “After Eid I will spend three days with the family, because I don’t know when again I will be able to get back home.”
Passengers were seen buying water and light food in the station for Iftar.
Saiful Islam Robin, heading to Pabna, said, “I bought these for my father. Last Eid he had a stomach upset after drinking water and eating food on the train. So this time we’re taking precautions.”
Station authorities said trains were departing and arriving on schedule. Three special trains were running for Eid passengers. These train services will continue for another seven days after Eid.
Gabtoli bus terminal
Bus counter staff at the Gabtoli terminal said buses had been running smoothly so far.
Monir Hossain, a counter staff of Keya Paribahan, said, “Since morning, seven of our buses have left on schedule.”
Another bus service said they were facing some traffic congestion in the stretch from Shyamoli to Aminbazar and in the EPZ area.
Sadarghat Launch terminal
Almost all launches at the Sadarghat terminal in Dhaka were packed with passengers. Many passengers even climbed up to the roofs.
One launch, Mv Bhola, was fined Tk 10,000 for having a staircase to get to the roof.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan inspected the terminal in the afternoon.
He told reporters that sand barges had been banned from sailing on water routes for 10 days to avoid accidents.
Terminal authorities said 35 launches had left the terminal on Saturday. On Friday, a total of 83 launches left the terminal.
Some 60-70 hawkers held a protest march against transport inspectors in Sadarghat after they were evicted from the pontoons.
Inspectors said they were not allowed on the pontoons in the first place. The hawkers attacked the inspectors when they were trying to evict them and the Ansar and police had to be brought in to control the situation, they said.
Meanwhile, the public grabbed a young man and handed him over to the police for harassing a woman.
Source: Bd news24
