The mounting pressure of huge traffic congestion on highways and at ferry terminals substantially increased on Saturday ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr festival, just days away.
The Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj was overflowing with passengers since sehri. The ferry authorities were struggling to cope with such a huge number of homebound passengers.
A long queue of motorcycles and small vehicles could be spotted at the terminal on Saturday along with thousands of people walking towards the ferry terminal.
Besides, people are crowding the ferry terminals and getting on overloaded speedboats and launches. They are crossing the Padma after waiting in a long line for several hours.
On the other hand, the pressure of buses and small vehicles could not be noticed on Paturia-Daulatdia waterway in Manikganj. However, there was the huge rush of homebound passengers at Paturia terminal. Passengers and vehicles were crossing the waterway without much suffering in the area.
However, it was feared that such a rush of passengers may rise with the advent of the Eid festival.
There were 10 ferries operating at Shimulia of Munshiganj, 21 in Paturia of Manikganj, and four in Aricha.
A 13 km tailback was created on the Dhaka-Tangail highway from Elenga to Bangabandhu Bridge. In addition, a long line of vehicles was stuck on the bridge due to the heavy traffic.
All the vehicles on this highway were moving at a slow pace since early morning on Saturday.
The drivers and passengers of the vehicles plying on the highway were suffering due to the congestion.
Moderate traffic congestion was created on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Vehicles were moving at a slow pace in the two-kilometres area from Pushpdam Resort in Gazipur sadar upazila to Garhgarhia Mastarbari on the highway since Saturday morning.
All inter-district buses of the north, south and west regions were leaving from Gabtoli inter-district bus terminal.
Although the people having tickets were able to get on the buses without any hindrance, ordinary passengers who could not manage tickets earlier were seen waiting hopelessly at the terminal. Local buses were the only option for them. They also had to pay additional fares on these local buses.
Meanwhile, on the fourth day of the Eid exodus, some trains left the capital late, but most of them had left on time. However, each train is crammed with passengers.
Despite the huge crowd, all the sufferings of the passengers were overwhelmed by the joy of being able to reunite with their loved ones.
The scenario could be noticed at Kamalapur railway station on Saturday morning.
According to the station authorities, 16 trains had left Dhaka for different destinations till 11 pm. Most of the trains left on time.
