People began their journey home to spend Eid with their loved ones on Monday (24 March).
Whether by bus, train, launch, or air, they will traverse the country from one end to the other.
As in previous years, the transport sector has made its preparations.
However, passengers are already facing difficulties due to black-market ticket sales for buses and trains ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Traffic congestion at multiple points on roads, fears of severe train schedule disruptions, and the soaring cost of air tickets for the more affluent travellers have added to the challenges.
Additionally, extortion, muggings, and highway robberies remain concerns.
Senior Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, Md Ehsanul Haque, has identified 159 spots on five major highways where traffic congestion could range from moderate to severe.
To mitigate the situation, the police will maintain “special vigilance” at these locations.
The breakdown of congestion-prone areas is as follows:
- Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway – 49 spots
- Dhaka-North Bengal Highway – 54 spots
- Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway – 6 spots
- Dhaka-Sylhet Highway – 42 spots
- Dhaka-Paturia-Aricha Highway – 8 critical spots
In addition, all national highways and key corridors have been instructed to undergo repair and maintenance at least seven days before Eid.
The roads included in this directive are Dhaka Bypass, Nabinagar-Chandra, Dhaka-Joydebpur-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Joydebpur, Bhogra-Chandra-Elenga, Elenga-Hatikumrul-Bogra-Rangpur, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Gopalganj-Khulna, and Bhanga-Barisal.
The roads under the Dhaka North and South City Corporations have also been instructed to undergo maintenance.
Efforts are underway to improve traffic flow.
Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is constructing service lanes on both sides of the road from Kanchan Bridge to Bhulta on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, while the Elenga-Rangpur four-lane highway has been opened.
Additionally, the speed limit on the Padma Bridge has been increased to 80 km/h.
To accommodate the surge in passengers, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has deployed 775 buses on various routes from Dhaka, while 470 BRTC buses will operate outside the capital.
Advance ticket sales for BRTC buses began on 20 March, but passenger interest has been lukewarm. Some garment factories have reserved BRTC buses for their workers.
Bus ticket prices soaring amid allegations of overcharging
Passengers are struggling to obtain tickets, with many forced to pay an extra Tk500-600 for their preferred bus services.
However, transport association leaders have denied allegations of overpricing.
Despite the presence of mobile courts by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), their effectiveness has been questioned.
Security measures have been tightened, with key inter-district bus terminals in Dhaka and across the country now under CCTV surveillance.
The Highway Police will keep a close watch on the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Aricha, Dhaka-Sylhet, and Dhaka-Tangail highways.
Law enforcement agencies have advised expatriates returning home to seek police assistance if necessary.
Eid travel hampered by train schedule disruptions
Train schedules have already started to falter as outdated locomotives and carriages suffer frequent breakdowns.
Several trains have been derailed on different routes, causing major disruptions even in the capital’s Kamalapur Railway Station.
Station Master Md Anwar Hossain admitted, “The biggest challenge this Eid is schedule disruption. However, Bangladesh Railway has made all necessary preparations, including rapid response units to handle derailments.”
He also noted that trains often have to stop longer than usual at certain stations during Eid, which extends journey times.
To meet increased demand, 44 additional passenger coaches (28 metre-gauge from Pahartali workshop and 16 broad-gauge from Syedpur workshop) will be added to train services.
Additionally, 19 extra locomotives (14 metre-gauge and 5 broad-gauge) will be introduced to support passenger trains.
Despite the railway authorities urging passengers to purchase tickets through the Rail Sheba app or ticket counters, many passengers unable to secure tickets online are resorting to black-market vendors on various virtual platforms.
However, even after paying exorbitant prices, many are unsure whether their tickets are genuine.
To improve efficiency, all weekly off-days for intercity trains have been suspended from 27 March until Eid.
Additionally, to ease congestion, several long-route trains, including Ekota, Drutajan, Panchagarh, Nilsagar, Kurigram, Lalmoni, Rangpur, Chilahati, and Burimari Express, will not stop at Dhaka Airport Station from today until Eid.
Meanwhile, trains such as Sundarban, Madhumati, Benapole, Jahanabad, Ruposhi Bangla Express, and Nakshikantha Commuter will depart from the suburban platforms of Dhaka Railway Station.
Launch operators prepared despite declining passenger numbers
The number of launch passengers has been declining over the years, but operators have assured that all preparations for Eid travel are in place.
The Dhaka-Barishal route will operate 18 launches as per regular schedules.
Launch fares typically range from Tk300 for deck tickets to Tk800-1,000 for single cabins and Tk1,800-2,000 for double cabins.
However, during Eid, fares increase to Tk400 for deck seats, Tk1,200 for single cabins, and Tk2,400 for double cabins.
Launch Owners’ Association leaders have, however, pledged not to raise fares excessively to maintain passenger interest.
BIWTA’s Joint Director at Dhaka River Port, Mobarak Hossain, stated, “We are fully prepared to ensure a smooth and hassle-free Eid journey. Unfit launches will not be allowed to operate, and stricter monitoring will be in place.”
He further warned that any complaints of overcharging or overcrowding would lead to strict action, including hefty fines and possible cancellation of route permits.
As the mass exodus from cities begins, travellers remain hopeful for a smooth journey home despite the recurring challenges of Eid travel.
