City people, who will go to their respective village homes to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, will have to face serious difficulties on the roads and highways. Their journey are likely to be more torturous this time than previous years ahead of the Eid as many parts of national highways are not in good shape.
Many people of the capital Dhaka and other metropolitan cities could not celebrate both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha in the last two years due to nationwide strict lockdown caused by Covid-19 pandemic situation. In the last two years, the government had to impose nationwide strict lockdown and restrictions as well several times to check the spread of novel Coronavirus.
Movement of all modes of transport except the emergency cargo had also remained suspended. No one was allowed to come outside of the houses without any emergency. After two years into the Covid-19 pandemic as life has returned to normal in our country, people are eagerly waiting to celebrate the religious festival with their near and dear ones. So, passengers on the all national highways are expected to experience painful journeys from the capital Dhaka and other cities due to poor road condition with potholes at many points.
The government must repair
the damaged roads
immediately ahead of Eid
The situation may take a turn for the worse as there is a strong chance of rain before and during Eid. On the other hand, the rush of home-goers will begin from mid Ramadan and continue till the day before Eid day, while many people will also leave for home on Eid day.
Severe traffic gridlock on roads and highways and untold sufferings of people were common phenomena during the Eid journey in the previous years. Meanwhile, passengers have already started suffering immensely due to gridlock at Paturia and Shimulia ferry terminals. Thousands of homebound passengers are making journey to 21 southern districts. As a result, a large number of passenger buses are rushing towards the ferry station, creating a long tailback every day.
Over six million holidaymakers are expected to leave the capital on during Eid holidays. Of them, nearly four million will go home by roads. Therefore, the government must take all necessary measures so that people can go to their home safely to celebrate Eid with their dear and near ones. It should not to allow light vehicles like car, microbus and motorbike on the highways alongside truck, lorry and covered-van, a week before the Eid, for the better use of the highways by passenger buses.
Apart from these, strong enforcement of law and monitoring by the authorities concerned are necessary to check the violation of traffic rules, overtaking, traffic chaos, plying of unfit vehicles.
Also, the Roads and Highways Department authorities must repair the damaged roads immediately ahead of the Eid.
