People have been returning to capital comfortably after celebrating the Eid ul-Azha with their near and dear ones in villages.
“Pressure of Dhaka-bound passengers has been increasing since Thursday morning.
However, no crowds were found at bus counters, launch terminals and railway stations as well as traffic jam on highways,” a bus passenger at Gabtoli who came from Rajshahi told to the media.
He said he and his family members reached their destination on time, as there was no traffic jam on the highway, although a large number of people are heading towards Dhaka after the Eid.
Visiting at Jatrabari, Sayedabad and Gabtoli bus terminals it was found that people, who were coming to Dhaka after celebration of the Eid expressed their satisfactions over the journey as they did not face any major hurdle on highways.
Jatrabari-Sayedabad area is now bustling with people returning to work places from villages carrying luggage, bags and sacks. Many of them were seen to carry sacrificial meat from villages.
Besides, the government has taken various measures to ensure smooth journey and security on highways during the long Eid holidays.
Different transport paribahans were coming to Dhaka from Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Cumilla, Chandpur, Barishal, Khulna, Patuakhali with full of passengers.
After getting off from buses passengers catch CNG-run autos and other transports to reach their destinations without facing trouble, said street vendor M Sharif.
He said: “The government offices are yet to open, so I returned Dhaka at my convenience. Otherwise, I usually come back soon after the Eid.”
Talking to BSS, a bus driver said that the travel time was shorter due to less traffic on highways.
He said that the capital is still relatively empty after the Eid holidays. Despite the pressure of passengers returning to Dhaka, there was no major congestion or chaos anywhere as the road conditions are good.
The same picture was seen at Sayedabad bus terminal, although passengers were coming from different districts. They were reaching their destinations comfortably.
Some passengers said that compared to previous years, the experience of returning after Eid was much relaxing as the government declared 10 days holidays on the occasion of the Eid excluding weekend.
A police sergeant Shafiq, who was on duty at Jatrabari, said, “I was here since morning. People have started coming to Dhaka from today after Eid. Policemen were active in maintaining law and order. They were on alert for ensuring smooth movement of passengers.”
A passenger Aklima, who came on Padma Travels from Shariatpur, said she boarded the bus in the morning and reached Dhaka in just two hours, adding, “There was no problem on the road."
Another passenger Shariful Islam said, "We reached Dhaka in a very short time as there was no traffic jam on the highway. We are very happy to reach Dhaka hassle free."
It was seen that a large number of passengers were returning to Dhaka today after the Eid. But the pressure will slightly be higher tomorrow and the next day as well.
The same picture was seen at Sadarghat launch terminal, many passengers were coming from the southern districts of Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna, Chandpur, Shariatpur and Madaripur by motor launches.
Apart from this, many people were also returning to Dhaka by trains. Crowds were seen at Kamalapur Railway Station and Airport Railway Station in Dhaka.
This year the Eid journey by train was more comfortable than other times as there were no train schedule disruptions.
Eid-ul-Azha, one of the most important religious festivals of Muslims, was celebrated across the country on June 7. This time, government employees were given a 10-day holiday on the occasion of Eid festival. Eid holiday, which began on June 5, will end on June 14.
Courtesy: BSS
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
