Irregularities marked the first day of advance bus ticket sale that started in the city on Friday ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, ticket-seekers claimed.
They also alleged that officials of different bus companies have put many tickets aside in the name of 'online sale.'
But the bus operators denied the allegations brought against them, saying that demand for tickets is outstripping supply.
Hundreds of people thronged the bus counters at Gabtoli, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli and other areas in the city since early morning to buy advance tickets to go home on the occasion of Eid.
The number of ticket-seekers was comparatively higher as it was weekly holiday. Ticket sale began at 6:00 am.
Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated either on June 5 or June 6, subject to the moon sighting.
There was more demand for the tickets on May 30, June 3 and June 4, bus operators said, adding that most of the tickets for these days had been sold out.
Many ticket-seekers returned home empty-handed even after they waited in long queues for hours.
Some ticket-seekers told the FE that the tickets for May 30 and June 3 were sold out by 8:30 am on Friday.
Saqlain Islam Kakon, a junior officer of a private bank, told the FE outside Nabil Paribahan counter on Mazar Road that he had been waiting in a queue for the tickets since 5:00 am.
"My serial was just 45. The ticket seller told me at 8:30 am that all air-conditioned and normal tickets for Panchagargh on May 30 had been sold out," he said.
He claimed that bus operators put most of the tickets aside in the name of 'online sale'. Later, they might sell tickets on the black market, he added.
Many ticket-seekers also claimed that despite frequent attempts, they failed to get tickets online.
Ashraful Alam Rubel, manager of a shopping outlet at Mirpur Section-2, told the FE that he tried for hours to buy tickets online for June 3, but failed.
Md Nabiul Islam, manager of SR Paribahan (Kalyanpur counter), told the FE that most of the people were trying to buy tickets for their journey on May 30 and June 3 and 4.
He said jobholders were planning to take leave on June 3, the last working day before Eid while June 2 is public holiday. "In such way, they could enjoy a nine-day holiday," he said.
His company will operate 50 buses for ten northern districts every day ahead of the festival, he said, adding that these buses can carry maximum 2,000 passengers a day.
He said 40 per cent of tickets will be sold online. "But the demand for tickets is five times higher than supply."
Despite repeated assurances by Bus Truck Owners Association (BTOA), bus companies were charging much higher prices for advance tickets, many ticket-seekers claimed.
Fare of Nilphamari-bound Nabil Paribahan bus is Tk 600-Tk 630 at normal time, but ticket price has been fixed at Tk 700 while that of Panchagargh-bound Hanif Paribahan bus is Tk 750-Tk 800 at normal time which has increased to Tk 1,000.
When contacted, Chairman of BTOA Ramesh Chandra Ghosh said all the companies under the association have been asked to follow normal fare chart fixed by BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority).
If any operator charges higher fare, he said, passengers should immediately inform the law enforcement agencies about it.
The association will also take stern action against those if found guilty of selling tickets on the black market or raising bus fares, he added.
However, Bangladesh Railway will start selling advance train tickets from May 22 from five places this year.
Advance tickets for May 31, June 1 to June 4 will be sold between May 22 and 26 respectively. If Eid is celebrated on June 6, then tickets for June 5 will also be sold from the counters.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) are yet to make announcement about their Eid arrangements.
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