Dhaka sees mass exodus of holidaymakers

Eid holidaymakers began streaming out of Dhaka city on Tuesday as the government's seven-day Eid-ul-Fitr vacation kicked off, with bus terminals, railway stations, and launch ghats crowded with passengers heading to their hometowns.

There were rushes across the launch terminals, bus terminals, highways, and the city's main railway station.

The pressure of passengers was seen increasing at the transport hubs of the city, including Gabtoli, Mohakhali, Badda, Abdullahpur, and Sayedabad, with a festive atmosphere as they were leaving to observe Eid with families and relatives in villages.

Many were returning home early to avoid the hardships and crowds of the Eid journey.

On the first day of the holiday, the pressure of people heading home increased at Kamalapur Railway Station compared to the last few days.

However, quite strict measures have been taken to enter the platforms to avoid mismanagement.

Subject to the sighting of the moon, the biggest religious festival of Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr, is likely to be celebrated in the country on March 20 or 21.

Keeping this possible date in mind, the Ministry of Public Administration has already scheduled a five-day holiday from March 19 to 23.

However, to make the Eid journey smoother and reduce the suffering of the people, the cabinet decided to declare a holiday on March 18 through an executive order.

With this, the Shab-e-Qadr holiday on March 17 is added, bringing the total number of holidays to seven days.

Despite the consecutive holidays, several emergency services in the public interest have been kept out of the scope of this holiday.

Electricity, water, gas, and other energy supply companies will remain operational around the clock.

In addition, fire services, port activities, cleaning operations, telephone and internet services, and postal department employees will perform their duties as usual.

Vehicles related to these services will also be allowed to ply on the roads.

To ensure healthcare services during the holidays, hospitals and emergency medical service institutions will remain open.

In addition, vehicles carrying medicines and medical equipment will be outside the scope of the holiday.

Meanwhile, the busyness of launch workers, coolies, and labourers in Sadarghat has increased with the fresh rush on Tuesday as the seven-day holiday began.

Passengers from different areas of the capital are flocking to go to different districts of the southern region, including Barisal, Bhola, Chandpur, and Patuakhali.

To ensure the safe movement of passengers on the occasion of Eid, vigilance teams consisting of BRTA, police, city corporation, and transport owner-worker unions have set up temporary camps.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) earlier said in an emergency notification that the movement of trucks, covered vans, and lorries on the country's highways will be restricted from Tuesday to March 23.

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