To celebrate Eid with their loved ones, people are leaving the capital Dhaka and other metropolitan cities in large scale. They are leaving Dhaka by trains, buses, and launches, and their journey is mostly free of hassles.
Depending on the sighting of the Shawwal moon, the Eid-ul-Fitr is scheduled to be celebrated on April 10 or April 11 and the Eid holiday will be on April 10, 11 and 12. Therefore, most of the government service holders will leave the capital Dhaka tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.
On the other hand, most of the people have already sent their families to their homes earlier to avoid chaos on roads and highways while students have also left the capital and other metropolitan cities. The city’s Sadarghat lunch terminal, Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Mahakhali bus terminals and Kamalapur and Airport railway stations on Sunday witnessed a huge crowd of home-goers as they were leaving the capital to enjoy the festival at their village homes. The Padma Bridge has made the Eid journey of home-bound people of the south-western region easier and comfortable. So, the people of the south-western region are going home smoothly by the Padma Bridge to celebrate Eid.
At Gabtoli bus terminals, 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 south-western districts are also making their journey by launch to reach home. Transport operators said the rush of the homebound people has been intensified further on Sunday while it will reach the peak tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon as it is the last working day for the government and private employees.
This year’s Eid journey is
comparatively
comfortable despite
pressure
of traffic
Besides, this year’s Eid journey is comparatively comfortable despite pressure of traffic. There is pressure of traffic, but no traffic congestion on highways this time. One railway overpass at Tinmatha rail gate in Bogura, Datiya Bridge, Fatki Bridge, Mulibari overpass, Panchila overpass, Datpur overpass, B-block Cantonment overpass in Bogura, Fultola overpass, Dhaperhat overpass in Rangpur and Mirzapur overpass opened to traffic from Saturday. Therefore, the homebound people are not facing traffic gridlock on the roads and highways.
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 journey of homebound people.
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 road department will also have to work to ease traffic congestion. 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.
