More than one crore people will leave the capital Dhaka during this Eid and about five crore more people might travel from one district to another, according to the estimation of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passengers’ welfare platform.
They urged the law enforcement agencies and the government to be more proactive to reduce the sufferings of the people.
Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, Secretary General of the organisation made the call at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the capital's Segunbagicha on Sunday morning, demanding an end to unbearable traffic jams, harassment of passengers on the way, anarchy of extra fare collection and road accidents.
He said, “As the coronavirus situation has come under control in the country, almost twice as many people will go home this Eid. Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity thinks that more than one crore people will travel from Dhaka to different districts of the country on this Eid. In addition, about five crore more people can travel from one district to another.”
He said that extra security and caution is required to ensure maximum use of every vehicle on all routes.
“However, due to traffic congestion and mismanagement, if proper use of these public transports is not ensured, a dreadful situation may arise in this year’s homebound journey,” he added.
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He said that some transport owners and drivers have become desperate to compensate for the loss of coronavirus while coping with the extra passenger pressure and transport crisis.
“We demand to take strict measures against them if additional fares are extracted,” said Mozammel Hoque.
Prof Hadiuzzaman, Director of BUET’s Accident Research Institute said, “We have seen that in 2018-19, one crore and 15 lakh people left Dhaka for Eid. Even during the Covid-19 period, six million left Dhaka for their village homes. This time 3 million people will leave Dhaka every day. However, we have the capacity to make travel arrangements for only 13 to 14 lakh people.”
He further said that in order to reduce this pressure and make the homebound journey safe, Eid holidays should be utilized properly.
“If the journey starts from April 25 instead of going home at the last moment, this pressure could be reduced to an extent,” he said.
He suggested sending the family members to their village home beforehand.
Journalist Abu Saeed Khan and members of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyna Smaity were also present at the press conference.
