With Eid-ul-Fitr fast approaching, the rush to return to one’s hometown is reaching its peak. This mass migration is particularly evident at Dhaka’s bus, train, and launch terminals.
On Thursday (27 March), the last working day before the holiday, many employees left work early to begin their journey home.
From early morning, people flocked to Dhaka’s Kamalapur and Airport Railway Stations, as well as the Gabtali, Saidabad, and Mohakhali bus terminals, in anticipation of the Eid celebrations.
By the afternoon, the flow of passengers grew exponentially.
Additionally, by the evening, there was a notable surge of people heading to the Sadarghat launch terminal.
The ticket counters were inundated, with long queues forming as travellers scrambled to secure their tickets.
Despite this, some managed to purchase tickets at a premium or through various means and proceeded on their journey with enthusiasm.
Kamalapur Station also saw a considerable turnout, though there were no significant delays in train schedules, allowing passengers to leave Dhaka relatively smoothly.
To ensure the safety of those travelling for Eid, the Bangladesh Army, police, RAB, and plainclothes detectives maintained a vigilant presence.
Special patrols were conducted along highways, with highway police managing traffic and enforcing discipline.
Ticket sales for this week had been completed the previous week, with online bookings surpassing the physical sales, according to officials at the bus counters.
However, many passengers who arrived at the counters on Thursday found no tickets available.
Most counters were sold out, and the surge of passengers in areas like Gabtali-Kallyanpur and Technical Mor led to congestion in these parts. By afternoon, the passenger flow intensified.
Those unable to secure tickets for higher-end buses were forced to opt for local transport, which came at nearly double the usual fare.
Kishore Kumar, counter manager at Shyamoli NR Transport, noted that special services had yet to be launched.
He explained that once these services begin, tickets might be available for standby passengers. However, as with every Eid, standby tickets are likely to be offered.
Several bus drivers in Kallyanpur and Gabtali revealed that with government offices closed for the day, the streets became congested, adding to the traffic jams on main roads. This made the journey to the bus terminal even more arduous.
At Gabtali bus terminal, three passengers from Gaibandha, all employed in Narayanganj, explained that they arrived at the terminal after work, hoping to catch a bus home.
However, after struggling to find any decent bus tickets, they were forced to prepare for a journey via local buses or trucks.
Thursday marked the fourth day of Eid travel, yet Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka remained relatively peaceful.
According to Station Manager Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, 43 trains, including intercity, mail, and commuter services, departed on time.
Mohammad Mizan, a passenger on the Rangpur Express, remarked that this year’s railway management was notably efficient.
Despite the usual crowd at Kamalapur Station, there was no chaos, and passengers were able to board their trains without much hassle.
However, some passengers raised concerns about the poor hygiene in the train compartments, with some citing unpleasant odours in certain carriages.
Despite this, overall, the station functioned smoothly.
Shahadat Hossain explained that after each train arrives at the station, its carriages are washed, but some staff might not have adhered to the standard procedures due to the pressure of Eid travel.
He assured that this would be addressed.
Security measures at Kamalapur Station were also stepped up, with personnel from the RAB, police, Ansar, and Railway Security Force present across the station, ensuring safety and order.
To prevent ticket irregularities, queues were carefully managed, with bamboo barriers ensuring that no one could jump ahead.
At Sayedabad, the scene was no different.
With the Eid rush in full swing, many commuters were forced to contend with increased fares.
Taslima Khatun, a garment worker from Mugdah-Manda, who was heading to Madhabpur in Habiganj, found herself arguing with a bus assistant over an inflated fare.
Despite initially being quoted a fare of 400 taka, she eventually managed to secure a seat on a bus heading to Habiganj at a reduced fare of 280 taka.
Many workers arriving at Sayedabad later in the day were also met with inflated fares, as transport providers capitalised on the increased demand.
Tahmid, a passenger heading to Chittagong, revealed that his usual 300 taka fare had risen to 500 taka for the Eid journey.
When asked about complaints of excessive fare charges, a BRTA mobile magistrate at the scene was unavailable for comment.
The Mohakhali inter-district bus terminal saw an increased passenger presence on Thursday, as buses heading to destinations in Tangail, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Kishoreganj, and other northern regions filled up one after another.
The scene at the terminal was chaotic, with buses departing only once they were fully occupied. As a result, the terminal was crowded with passengers and vehicles alike.
Security personnel, including law enforcement and bus operators, were kept busy managing the situation.
At the Gabtali bus terminal, Lt. Col. Mohammad Mahbub Alam of RAB-4 addressed reporters, detailing the organisation’s efforts to maintain order.
He mentioned that RAB’s 24 patrol teams were stationed at major bus stands and shopping centres, while plainclothes detectives were keeping a close eye on potential pickpocketing or fraud incidents. Mobile courts were on standby to address any violations promptly.
On the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, traffic jams persisted throughout the day, particularly near the Velangor bus stand. The ongoing expansion of the SASEC-2 project has meant that there are no designated parking areas, exacerbating the situation.
However, local police remained active in managing the congestion.
At the same time, the police in the Dhaka-Chittagong region deployed additional personnel to ensure smooth travel, especially in areas prone to traffic buildup.
The highway police also focused on key hotspots, deploying extra forces and over 200 Rover Scouts to prevent bottlenecks.
The situation was much better along the Dhaka-Mawa highway, where no major traffic jams were reported.
