Homebound people in dire straits before Eid
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
FE Report
Frantic rush of homebound people on the last working day before the Eid-ul-Azha, aftermath of the BNP-called strike, and scarcity of transportation caused huge traffic jam at the city's terminals, increasing the commuters' sufferings.
However, Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, and private bus and launch companies arranged a large number of additional transports for the homebound people.
This initiative, marking the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, was taken to facilitate the commuters, but the operators failed to maintain their schedule due to high-tide of people and severe traffic congestion in different highways. Homebound people were seen waiting for their buses and trains for long hours.
Zakir Hossain, a service-holder and Noakhali-bound passenger, told the FE that he managed a ticket with Tk 300, paying Tk 100 extra, after waiting for three hours at Sayedabad Bus Terminal.
"I just got chance to sit on the bonnet of the bus," he said, adding that the situation occurred for acute gridlock in the Dhaka Chittagong Highway.
Abul Kashem, ticket master of a bus counter, admitted realising extra fare from the passengers, and said almost every bus was returning without passenger.
Babu, another ticket master, said, "We are not able to maintain our schedule due to severe jam in the highways."
He, however, said they provided special service to the people who faced schedule anarchy due to the strike by taking special arrangement.
A large number of passengers were also seen waiting at the rail stations to buy standing tickets, which means they would not get any seat.
Over 20,000 people are leaving Dhaka by train daily with 16,000 sitting capacity on different routes. Passengers alleged that they have been suffering a lot even having tickets as the trains are not moving as per schedule.
Many along with family members were desperate for CNG-run auto-rickshaws or taxicabs in city streets. Those, who managed to find one, had to pay exorbitant fare to reach their destinations.
Hundreds of people were seen going to their villages by sitting on the roofs of buses, trains and launches, risking their lives just to spend a few days with their family members.
Overloaded launches with thousands of homebound passengers continued to leave the Sadarghat Launch Terminal for different destinations in foggy weather without adequate safety measures, posing a serious threat to the lives of the passengers.
Frantic rush of homebound people on the last working day before the Eid-ul-Azha, aftermath of the BNP-called strike, and scarcity of transportation caused huge traffic jam at the city's terminals, increasing the commuters' sufferings.
However, Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, and private bus and launch companies arranged a large number of additional transports for the homebound people.
This initiative, marking the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, was taken to facilitate the commuters, but the operators failed to maintain their schedule due to high-tide of people and severe traffic congestion in different highways. Homebound people were seen waiting for their buses and trains for long hours.
Zakir Hossain, a service-holder and Noakhali-bound passenger, told the FE that he managed a ticket with Tk 300, paying Tk 100 extra, after waiting for three hours at Sayedabad Bus Terminal.
"I just got chance to sit on the bonnet of the bus," he said, adding that the situation occurred for acute gridlock in the Dhaka Chittagong Highway.
Abul Kashem, ticket master of a bus counter, admitted realising extra fare from the passengers, and said almost every bus was returning without passenger.
Babu, another ticket master, said, "We are not able to maintain our schedule due to severe jam in the highways."
He, however, said they provided special service to the people who faced schedule anarchy due to the strike by taking special arrangement.
A large number of passengers were also seen waiting at the rail stations to buy standing tickets, which means they would not get any seat.
Over 20,000 people are leaving Dhaka by train daily with 16,000 sitting capacity on different routes. Passengers alleged that they have been suffering a lot even having tickets as the trains are not moving as per schedule.
Many along with family members were desperate for CNG-run auto-rickshaws or taxicabs in city streets. Those, who managed to find one, had to pay exorbitant fare to reach their destinations.
Hundreds of people were seen going to their villages by sitting on the roofs of buses, trains and launches, risking their lives just to spend a few days with their family members.
Overloaded launches with thousands of homebound passengers continued to leave the Sadarghat Launch Terminal for different destinations in foggy weather without adequate safety measures, posing a serious threat to the lives of the passengers.