Thousands of Dhaka people started rushing to train and bus terminals to leave the city on Monday, the first day of the seven-day public holiday, to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha at different destinations across the country.
On the day, several trains on the northern routes ran behind schedules while passengers were seen stranded at different rail stations.
No severe traffic congestion was, however, reported on the major highways on the day.
Heavy rainfall, stagnant water, and alleged higher fares added to the sufferings of home-goers on their journeys.
The country is set to celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha, one of the two biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, on May 28.
The government declared the seven-day public Eid holiday from Monday.
Since morning hundreds of people started to crowd the Dhaka railway station at Kamalapur.
Several trains on northern routes, including Nilsagar Express on Dhaka-Chilahati, Rangpur Express on Dhaka-Rangpur, Lalmoni Express on Lalmonirhat-Dhaka, and Ekota Express on Dhaka-Panchagarh, ran behind their schedules since morning by one to three hours.
Many passengers were seen getting on train roofs defying law and risking their lives especially at the Tongi station.
Meanwhile, on the day, Bangladesh Railway introduced one women-only coach on both Jayantika Express and Sonar Bangla Express.
Desperate holidaymakers get on the roof of a train at Tongi station near the capital on Monday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha festival. — New Age photo
Sadarghat Launch Terminal in Dhaka sees crowds of passengers on Monday as holidaymakers leave the capital to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their loved ones. — New Age photoAt the inaugural event at the station road transport and bridges minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said that during the Eid journey the female passengers face difficulties to get on trains.
Considering this the prime minister Tarique Rahman called him last night and following his directive they reserved one coach each for these two trains on Eid, he said.
He added that after Eid they would try to introduce the system in every intercity train.
Railway director general Md Afzal Hossain said that the reserved coaches are for the female passengers with standing tickets while the female passengers with ticket will travel on their own seats inside the general coaches.
About the trains running behind schedules, he said that during the Eid time, the stopping time at every station is longer than scheduled for passengers to board and disembark.
Besides, storms caused trees to fall at several places in the northern region, such as Joypurhat, which took time to clear those trees, he said, adding that due to huge crowd they ran trains slowly to avoid accidents.
Crowds of travellers were seen at the capital’s three inter-district bus terminals at Gabtoli, Saidabad, and Mohakhali since the morning.
Zahid Al Latif, Saidabad Bus Owners’ Association member secretary, said that the pressure of passengers was not at peak on the day.
He alleged that many people rode on buses outside the terminals.
Inside the capital, due to water stagnation passengers faced difficulties to reach the terminals throughout the day.
New Age correspondent in Tangail reported that the number of vehicles on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge national highway increased on the day.
However, no major congestion was seen on the highway.
New Age correspondents in Chattogram and Sylhet reported that on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet highways movement of vehicles were slow at some points but no major congestion was seen on these highways on the day.
Our correspondent in Gazipur reported that pressure of vehicles with passengers increased on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways on the day.
Gazipur police superintendent Md Sharif Uddin said that there remained a risk of traffic congestion at the Mauna and Chandra crossings.
Meanwhile, as different apparel factories started vacation many people started to leave the industrial areas. Huge crowds were seen in Baipail area in Savar on the day.
On the day, road transport minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam at an event said that in two days 1.5 crore people would leave Dhaka.
‘It is a reality that there are not enough fit vehicles in the private and public sectors to carry 1.5 crore people,’ he said, discouraging the passengers to ride on goods-laden vehicles.
He added that they also asked the launch owners to operate launches after ensuring safety during inclement weather.
Since morning, many passengers went to the Sadarghat launch terminal to leave Dhaka.
The pressure of them increased during the evening.
