Staff Reporter :
Tens of thousands of passengers are departing the capital daily via road, rail, air, and launches, heading to their hometowns and villages to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, one of Islam’s most significant festivals, with their loved ones.
On Friday, intercity bus terminals such as Gabtoli, Mahakhali, and Syedabad reported on-time departures, though some passengers alleged that they were charged extra for their tickets.
They have called on authorities to monitor ticket counters to prevent overcharging.
Gabtoli Bus Terminal experienced a calm morning without the usual crowd, allowing passengers to embark on their journeys hassle-free. Despite buses departing on schedule, some noted a slight increase in fares.
Abdul Halim, a counter manager for Shah Fateh Ali Paribahan, observed less crowding than expected and anticipated a potential increase in passengers post-holidays.
Muslim Uddin of Pabna Express noted that not all buses were fully occupied, with some seats remaining vacant.
Bipul Ahmed from Hanif Enterprise observed that families were buying tickets in advance, while solo travelers opted for local buses.
He anticipated a surge in passenger numbers in the coming days and noted a shift towards train travel, leading to fewer bus passengers.
Local buses at Gabtoli were fully booked early in the morning. Driver Sabbir Hossain of Selfie Paribahan confirmed they weren’t charging extra, offering a quick trip to Patuaria Ghat for Tk 200.
“Patuaria-bound Selfie Paribahan is not charging any additional money from the passengers. We are going from Gabtoli to Patuaria Ghat for only Tk 200 in a very short time,” Sabbir said.
Iqbal Anik, a passenger bound for Kushtia, expressed dissatisfaction with the fare increase from Tk 900 to Tk 1200 per ticket for Eid, marking a Tk 300 rise.
For passenger safety, a police control room has been established at Gabtoli Bus Terminal, offering immediate assistance for any issues. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) also has a surveillance team stationed there.
Railway passengers, especially those with advance tickets, expressed satisfaction as trains from Kamalapur Railway Station left on schedule with minimal delays.
The railway authorities are running 67 pairs of trains daily, including 42 pairs of intercity trains and an additional eight pairs of special trains for Eid, along with heightened security measures.
The railway authorities have also beefed up three layers of security to avert untoward incidents and to maintain the excessive pressure of passengers. Nobody is allowed to enter the railway station without tickets.
It is expected that the pressure of passengers would increase in the last hours when the public-private offices and the garment factories would announce leave. The launches at the Sadarghat were also vacant on Friday.
The launches bound for the southern part of the country left with fewer passengers.
With the opening of the Padma Bridge, many passengers are opting for this quicker route, causing some congestion at toll plazas as a significant number of vehicles leave the capital for the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
