Eid holidaymakers' mad rush for roots

FE REPORT | Published: June 15, 2024 22:49:32

Eid holidaymakers made a mad dash on Saturday to leave Dhaka city for their destinations by different modes of transport to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their near and dear ones tomorrow (Monday).
City terminals were full to the brims with huge numbers of homeward passengers getting on different vehicles, sources said.
Long queues before ticket counters, additional charges, delayed schedule and severe gridlocks near the terminals and in some places on the highways marked the Eid journey.
Transport operators at Sayedabad inter-district bus terminal were charging extras (Tk 200 to Tk 300) from passengers travelling to different eastern and southern districts, many alleged.
A private service-holder, Asaduzzaman, was looking for a bus ticket to go to Madaripur from Sayedabad at noon. However, he was seen moving desperately from counter to counter for a ticket.
"On one hand, all tickets of some transport have already been sold out. On the other, some were asking for additional fares," he said.
Transport workers were asking for Tk 600 to Tk 700 against the regular fare of Tk 300 to Tk 400, he added.
"Despite all odds, we have to concede hassles only to meet close ones in villages," said Mr Zaman.
Due to traffic congestion in the terminal areas, even after leaving the bus from the counter, buses were seen taking hours to take to the highways.
Passengers said they were bound to travel to their destinations even paying higher fares.
In contrast, transport workers said buses return to Dhaka with a handful number of passengers, that's why they had to ask for extra charges from the passengers.
Travellers also said it was taking unusually higher time to reach the terminals on the back of unusual home-bound crowds.
Different roads from Kakrail and Paltan intersections towards transport hubs like Kamalapur, Sayedabad and Sadarghat were packed with transport. The city streets were almost empty.
Many passengers were seen walking towards their destined terminals carrying heavy bags and baggage that they didn't miss busses, trains or launches.
A small entrepreneur, Monir Hossain, said he remained stuck in a public bus for more than 30 minutes in Paltan intersection on his way to Sadarghat from Mirpur.
"I came here (Paltan) from Mohammadpur area within 30 minutes less than the usual period. However, the traffic situation here is gruelling," he said, adding that he had no alternative to walking on foot towards the destination.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) fined two launches for not ensuring rallying on the stairs and illegal parking on the pontoon at Dhaka River Port Terminal at Sadarghat in the capital.
BIWTA Deputy Director Ehteshamul Parvez disclosed the development to the media.
He said that a BIWTA executive magistrate conducted a mobile court at Sadarghat launch terminal in the capital.
He said that MV Glory of Srinagar-7 launch was fined Tk 3,000 for not having rallying on the launch stairs while MV Jamal-9 was fined Tk 1,000 for illegal berthing at the pontoon.
He said that during a mobile team drive, river police and Ansar personnel were present.
He said that their drive will continue to ensure safety and security for the home-bound passengers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Meanwhile, thousands of people were seen waiting for trains at Kamalapur railway station while many for tickets.
Railway station sources said although trains were full to the brims with passengers, most of them left Dhaka on time.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
saif.febd@gmail.com