FE REPORT
City-dwellers started leaving the capital Dhaka on Friday for their native homes to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their loved ones.
As the day was weekend, a significant number of backpackers were seen thronging the major transit hubs, including Kamalapur Railway Station, Sadarghat River Port Terminal, and bus terminals like Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali, to get on the vehicles for their destinations.
A railway official at Kamalapur said that most of the trains left the station on time.
He added that the Bangladesh Railway (BR) authorities have taken measures to prevent train journey without tickets.
Meanwhile, to manage the massive passenger surge during Eid travel, the Bangladesh Railway (BR) authorities have prepared a total of 251 railway coaches across the country.
A railway official said that they have kept the coaches ready to make the homebound passengers' journey comfortable and hassle-free.
Special additional coaches will be added to nine intercity Western Zone (WZ) trains of Bangladesh Railway.
According to the BR sources, the decision to add these extra coaches will be in effect for various periods from 23 May to 7 June.
In addition, a special train will run between Joydebpur and Parbatipur for the convenience of passengers in the northern region.
Farid Ahmed, general manager of West Zone Railway, said that one extra coach will be added before Eid and two extra coaches after Eid to nine intercity trains of Western Railway. These will include both non-AC and AC coaches.
As per the BR's decision, this extra passenger capacity will generally be available from 23 May to 27 May before Eid and from 29 May to 7 June after Eid.
However, the BR authorities said that train No. 793 (Panchagarh Express) will not run on May 27.
In addition, these extra coaches will be added before and after the holiday to the Rajshahi-route trains-Banalata Express, Silkcity Express, Padma Express, and Dhumketu Express-as well as to the northern trains Drutojan Express, Panchagarh Express, and Ekota Express. At Sadarghat Launch Terminal, homebound passengers to the southern districts were seen leaving by launches of different routes.
Launch operators said that they were expecting to see the actual rush of passengers from Sunday.
Meanwhile, holidaymakers who prefer road journey have started leaving the city as the seven-day Eid-ul-Azha vacation is going to begin from Monday.
The main bus terminals, including Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali, were seen crowded unlike other normal days as home-goers started gathering at the points.
The full passenger pressure has yet to start but many people are sending their families ahead of the vacation to avoid hassle.
However, many are returning home in advance to avoid the inconvenience of the journey, resulting in increased crowding at the capital's bus terminals.
Holidays were already scheduled for May 26 to 31 around Eid. The government has declared May 25 as a holiday through an executive order to ensure smooth Eid travel. Accordingly, government officials and employees will be getting seven consecutive days of leave from May 25 to 31.
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