Millions start trips from Dhaka to village homes for Eid

Dhaka, June 13 – Thousands of residents of Bangladesh capital Dhaka started to leave the city celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones in village homes for last few days hoping better situation both road and railway. But early monsoon and traffic gridlock fall into trouble for passengers and they were expected to suffer during Eid holidays. The three day government holiday for Eid will begin on June 15 as the Eid is likely to be celebrated on June 16. Most bus terminals and train stations in the capital were overcrowded with homebound people. People fear most the traffic congestion of different highways.
According to one estimate, about one-third of capital Dhaka’s 20 million residents move to their village homes to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with their relatives, dear and near ones.
The police are working to keep all the entrance and exit routes in the capital free of traffic. There are also mobile courts, along with adequate police, so that there is no passenger harassment at bus counters, launch and railway stations. ‘
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia during a sudden visit at Mahakhali terminal yesterday noon warned the bus owners of stern measures if an extra fare is extracted from passengers.
DMP commissioner said that there are lists of fare in each counter. Our policemen are staying with bus owners associations’ people. There is a mobile court that does not allow anyone to charge extra fare than fixed rates. I have spoken to the passengers myself; they said clearly that they are not paying more.
However, some passengers claimed that extra fare has been charged but tickets are available with extra fares.
In Sayedabad bus terminal Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) suspended Ekushe, Himachal and Royal bus services for charging an extra fare.
During a spot visit at Gabtoli bus terminal yesterday, there was no crowd at all. Transport workers are more than passengers. One of the workers said that from Thursday afternoon there will be a huge rush. Passengers said Tickets are available during Eid, but they paid more.
The scenario at Mahakhali terminal was a little different. Passengers have no complaint about extra fares.
Past few years Eid journey was not smooth for commuters. But this year the situation is very different. Transport workers said some points of highways will make trouble for passengers. The pressure of vehicles and passengers will start on Thursday afternoon as the holiday begin with Friday and they have kept standby services to maintain the schedule.
Counter managers of north and south-facing buses said that there was no big traffic congestion in highways. If this situation is going on same, the Eid journey will be relieved.
Meanwhile, all the passenger trains from Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka maintained their timetables till this noon. Railway Minister Mujibul Haque visited the rail station this afternoon. Special train services started on Wednesday.
However, there is no pressure in Dhaka Sadarghat launch terminal. On Wednesday morning there was a pressure of passengers but as the day raised the pressure of passengers eased.
Vessels were moving due to adverse weather conditions and the number of warning signs in the river ports is being shown. On Wednesday 25 launches left from Sadarghat since morning to noon. 96 launches left on Tuesday. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWA) and Transport Corporation (TC) introduced special services from Tuesday on the occasion of Eid.
Recently three special vigilance teams for the terminals in Dhaka formed with representatives from BRTA, DMP, two Dhaka city corporations and associations of transport operators and workers, to monitor ticket fares and check to charge extra fare during Eid. A monitoring committee was also formed to supervise the vigilance teams.
On Wednesday a long tailback was experienced in major Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Chittagong highways due to a pressure of vehicles plus speed due to potholes and waterlogging.
At least 10km long tailback has created on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway from Munshiganj’s Gazaria to Vhaterchar, while 4-km tailback created from Bhaberchar to Daudkandi on Cumilla road yesterday.
Dhaka bound vehicles from Cumilla were virtually stranded and traffic movement to the opposite direction was very slow, according to eyewitnesses.
“The traffic jam was created from Bhaterchar to Meghna bridge due to excessive pressure of vehicles,” Md Alamgir Hossain in-charge of Bhaberchar police outpost told this correspondent.
At least 12-km long traffic jam has created on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. According to sufferers, heavy rain and potholes are major causes for waterlogging which invited tailback from Tongi to Chandona Chourasta, they added. At least 12 km on the highways from Tongi to Chandona went under water due to heavy rain.
The pressure of vehicles is increasing as many factory owners have already announced holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. So, the pressure of holidaymakers is also increasing on highways.
Besides, traffic jam also created from Bhogra bypass to Chandra and Chandra to Kaliakoir railway over the bridge and the traffic jam created due to single lane bridges on Dhaka-Tangail highway.
The road, transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday claimed that he didn’t see any traffic jam in highways.
Some garment factories in Gazipur has announced shutdown on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr—so workers have rushed to different bus stops to leave the town for their village homes. – Staff Reporter