With the holy Eid-ul-Azha just around the corner, the mass exodus of homebound people from the capital Dhaka has begun since Monday.
The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on June 29.
The government has extended Eid-ul-Azha holidays of this year by a day by announcing June 27 (today) a holiday through an executive order.
Therefore, people, especially the government employees have already started leaving the capital Dhaka, other metropolitan cities and district towns on a large scale since Monday afternoon after completing their office work on the last working day.
However, the mad rush of home-bound people will reach its peak today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) as most holidaymakers are expected to leave the capital to celebrate the religious festival with their near and dear ones.
Meanwhile, some holidaymakers have already left the capital to avoid possible hassles while many have sent their families to village homes much ahead of the Eid vacation since the educational institutions remain closed.
On the other hand, different law enforcement agencies are committed to ensure a comfortable Eid journey.
The Eid-ul-Azha is a little different as livestock-laden vehicles move on highways.
Besides, there are cattle markets near the highway so that cops have to face some challenges.
However, the Padma Bridge has made the Eid journey of home-bound people of the south-western region easier and more comfortable.
The people of the south-western region are now going home smoothly to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha because of Padma Bridge.
Beside, the condition of roads and highways is good during this Eid but there is a problem on a road in the northern region.
The city’s Sadarghat launch terminal, Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Mohakhali bus terminals and Kamalapur and Airport railway stations on Monday saw a huge crowd of home-goers as people are leaving the capital to enjoy the festival at their village homes.
At Gabtoli bus terminal, home-bound people of Khulna and Barishal divisions were seen going home via Paturia launch terminal.
They are crossing the river by ferry or launch and then they are getting on buses to reach their destinations from Doulatadia.
At Sadarghat launch terminal, people of 23 districts of the country are making their journey by launch to reach home.
From Sunday night, a large number of people are leaving the capital Dhaka by launch, train and bus.
Transport operators said the rush of the homebound people will intensify further today (Tuesday).
But the homebound people are facing serious traffic gridlock on the roads and highways due to heavy pressure of vehicles on the north and mid highways of the country.
About 10 million people will be travelling from Dhaka to their ancestral homes for the Eid holidays while nearly 50 million more are expected to make inter-district journeys at this time.
The Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority have taken different initiatives including introduction of special launches, trains and buses to make hassle-free Eid journeys for homebound people.
The authorities concerned will do their best to make the Eid journey largely trouble-free and they are able to provide traffic jam free and safe Eid.
So, laws are strictly being enforced against various offenses including unfit, unregistered, and unlicensed vehicles.
Besides, members of different law enforcement agencies have also taken necessary measures to ensure a hassle-free and safe journey for home-goers.
Security has been beefed up at launch and bus terminals and railway stations.
Apart from these, district police and highway police and roads department will also have to work to ease traffic congestion.
Therefore, authorities must take effective steps to stop unbearable traffic jams, passengers' harassment, fare anarchy and road accidents during the eid journey that is always a period of heightened activity on road, rail and waterways.
Besides, it will also stop extortion by some members of the law enforcement agencies and transport leaders as well as various toll points to avert traffic congestion on the national highways.
Apart from roads and highways and railways, the law enforcement agencies will have to conduct special surveillance on the movement of vessels to ensure safety on the waterways as many people are traveling to places of interest in the country to celebrate Eid.
They must keep all ferries running round-the-clock in Aricha-Daulatdia, Aricha-Kazirhat and Mawa-Chair Janjat routes and increase the number of ferries in Mawa route. Besides, additional contingent of the police force will be deployed in Mawa Ferry Ghat to control the traffic at the ferry ghat.
