City hustle-bustle easing on home-goers’ rush

The overpopulated capital began to wear a deserted look from Thursday, as thousands of people leave Dhaka on the last working day for spending the Eid vacation with their dear and near ones.  
On Thursday, almost all major bus terminals - Mohakhali, Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Gulistan - were packed with people, leaving the city ahead of the three official holidays announced by the government for Eid-ul-Fitr starting from today (Friday). But the holiday will be extended by another day, if the Eid is observed on Sunday.
The scenario was almost the same at Sadarghat Launch Terminal and Kamalapur Railway Station throughout the day, making difficult for transport operators and traffic officials to handle mad-rush of home-goers amid shortfall of transportations.
Because of the rush, the city's important streets connecting the terminals witnessed severe traffic congestion.
"Eid is expected on Saturday, and I can't take any risk, as I have to reach my village home by Friday evening," said Shamim Ahmed, who was going to Kushtia.
Like him, many others with bag and baggage were seen waiting for long at the bus counters and terminals to avail vehicles for traveling towards their respective destinations.
Those who could not manage tickets were also seen waiting at the exit points of the capital to book space on the rooftop, as transport operators were taking rooftop passengers after coming out of the terminals to dodge the law-enforcement agencies.
To avert ticket collection-related troubles, some people hired CNG-run three-wheelers to go to nearby districts of Dhaka, like - Gazipur, Manikganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Narayanganj and Narsingdi.
Meer Mustafizur Rahman, an employee of ICB Capital Management, told the FE that he along with his three friends hired a CNG-driven three-wheeler at Tk 1,500 for a 50-kilometer ride to Mirzapur in Tangail.
"Of course, we know travelling on the highways with a three-wheeler is risky. But we have no other option. We need to leave Dhaka as fast as we can to avert rush of people in the evening," he said.
Kamrul Islam, an employee of Sirajganj-bound Ovi Paribahan, said it seemed to him that all the city dwellers wanted to leave the capital on that day, putting serious pressure on the transport operators.
Meanwhile, the mass departure of home-goers took the issue of security of the locked houses during the Eid vacation up front, as the city had witnessed many incidents like robbery and burglary in the past. 
When contacted, joint commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Monirul Islam said they have already decided to take special measures with a well-planned strategy of arranging area-wise security management during the vacation.
"The special security arrangement will be in place two days ahead of the Eid and will continue till the capital returns to normalcy."
Law-enforcers have been instructed to perform their duties with utmost sincerity and professional dedication to stop criminal activities during the Eid, he also said.
The DMP official also asked all to examine closed circuit camera televisions (CCTVs) installed at different residential and commercial buildings, and make necessary repair to those to ensure full-proof security.
According to a latest survey of Bangladesh Jatri Kollyan Samity, an association for passengers' welfare, nearly 8.0 million people would depart the capital to celebrate the festival at their village homes.
However, scenario on the country's major highways remained the same on the day, as increased number of vehicles, most of which were carrying extra passengers, moved slowly because of traffic congestion.
Superintendent of Police (Highway Police, Gazipur) Md Shafiqul Islam said pressure of vehicles, carrying Eid-goers, was gradually mounting, putting extra pressure on them.
"We're now trying to keep the highways active at any cost," he added.  
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