Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) on Sunday called upon the government and transport service providers to ensure hassle-free and safe journey of passengers during upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
They also demanded stopping passengers' harassment and realising extra fares from the passengers by a section of transport operators and taking effective measures to reduce road accidents during Eid vacation.
BJKS secretary general Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury came up with the demands at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
He urged the government to ease traffic jam, stop harassment of passengers and realising extra fares from the passengers by a section of bus and launch operators during Eid vacation.
He said it is expected that over 10 million people will leave the capital to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at their village home.
"So, considering the situation, there might have difficulty in ensuring hassle-free mass transports during the upcoming Eid vacation."
He also urged the government to ensure safety, security and hassle-free transports so that passengers could reach their respective destinations without facing any trouble.
Mr Chowdhury suggested that the departments concerned free the capital's footpaths and stop illegal car parking during the biggest festival of Muslims.
He also suggested the government stop plying of battery-run rickshaws, easy bikes, and manually-operated rickshaws on the main roads from April 27 until Eid day.
Mr Chowdhury demanded stopping toll collection by a section of law enforcers and transport leaders which is considered as one of the main causes for creating traffic jam on the highways.
Besides, he called upon the government to deploy plainclothes police apart from regular ones at bus and launch terminals and railway stations and take effective measures to prevent robbery on the highways.
Dr Hadiuzzaman, director, Accident Research of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET), said there will be a shortage of mass transport for around 1.6 million passengers.
The problem could be resolved by enhancing Eid holidays, he added.
He also suggested sending family members to village home in advance in order to avoid last-moment rush and chaos.
Around three million people are expected to leave the capital every day for enjoying Eid holidays.
A recent study conducted by BUET found that of these three million travellers, only 1.6 million have secured transport for their trip.
Dr Hadiuzzaman said each day about 800,000 people will leave the capital on their Eid journeys by bus, 100,000 by train, 125,000 by launch, 300,000 by motorcycle and another 300,000 by private vehicles.
Another 1.4 million will not be able to get tickets and use alternate means such as travelling on the roofs of trains, buses and launches, he added.
Journalist Abu Sayed Khan demanded decentralisation of capital Dhaka and reduction of public pressure on the capital.
BJKS vice-president Tawhidul Hoque Liton and its joint secretary general M Monirul Hoque were also present at the press conference.
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