Bus, train and ferry terminals witnessed a mad rush as people started streaming out of Dhaka on Monday defying all accompanying hassles of bumpy journey to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones.
City schools went into holidays for Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival for Muslims, with many home-goers leaving the city in the afternoon on the day.
Passengers swarmed all three major bus terminals, Sadarghat ferry terminal and railway stations for tickets and a place on the transports.
Many buses left the city terminals on the day with passengers beyond their capacities.
Passengers have alleged that many transport operators were cashing in on the rush charging extra by creating an artificial shortage of tickets adding to the suffering of the passengers.
Many people failing to manage tickets were seen riding on the roofs of buses, trains and launches.
Passengers alleged that staff of different transport operators at Saydabad bus terminal were charging extra.
Mahinur Akter, a Lakshmipur-bound passenger, who was standing in front of Al-Arafa Paribahan counter, said they charged Tk 450
for a seat in the chair coach although the actual fare was Tk 300.
She said she was bound to buy tickets for herself and her family as it was the same with other transport operators.
Manager of Al-Arafa Paribahan counter Motaleb Hossain said they could not charge the regular fare as the busses would return to the capital without passengers.
Mustafa Jalala, a Feni-bound passenger, said he paid Tk 350 for a ticket of Star Line Paribahan instead of Tk 250 in other times.
The same scenario was also observed at other bus terminals including Gabtoli and Mohakhali.
People also crowded Kamalapur railway station to catch a train to their destinations.
Some passengers scrambled in front of the counters for ‘standing tickets’ on Chittagong, Sylhet and Noakhali- bound trains.
Some people were seen riding on roofs of Silk City and Mohanagar Provati expresses but members of Railway Nirapatta Bahini and railway police did not stop them.
Station master Nripendra Nath Saha told New Age that they were working to manage the situation as some of the trains missed the schedule because of heavy rain in the last two days.
He said they were expecting more pressure on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
According to the railway officials, Chittagong-bound Subarna Express was delayed around two hours, Rangpur-bound Rangpur Express one hour and Rajshahi-bound Silk City Express one hour on Monday.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation also started a 10-day special steamer services with seven vessels on the day.
New Age Barisal correspondent reported that the Eid special service of BIWTC vessels with regular services will continue till September 30, said Azmal Hossain, deputy general manager ( commercial and passenger) BIWTC Barisal.
New Age Tangail correspondent reported that thousands of passengers, traders along with their cattle remained stranded in a 40-kilometre tailback for five hours from around 7:00am on Dhaka-Tangail highway on the day as the vehicles were moving at a snail’s pace due to malfunctioned vehicles and rain.
New Age Comilla correspondent reported that the passengers were experiencing a 35-kilometre tailback from noon on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
Source: New Age
