The government and various service providers have taken initiatives to ensure safe and smooth journey of the home-bound passengers on the road marking the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, reports BSS.
As part of move, the government has opened new bridges and roads ahead of the Eid.
The relevant institutions have taken various initiatives, including reducing traffic congestion, ensuring passenger safety, stopping excessive ticket prices and ticket black marketing.
Bangladesh Highway Police will work across the country to ensure that there is no disruption during this Eid journey. Members of Highway Police and various units of Bangladesh Police will be on patrol at 1,018 check posts and on 3,991 kilometers of highway, police officials told the media.
The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police is considering the Eid journey as the most important event of the year.
On the occasion of Eid, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is launching the 'Eid Special Service' from March 25. Advance ticket sales have started from BRTC depots from March 20 and Eid service buses will operate until April 5. BRTC has also provided the facility of bus reservation.
Meanwhile, private operators have added new buses to their fleet to ensure uninterrupted service to passengers.
The leaders of Bus Owners Association said they will be on the ground alongside the police to take measures to prevent ticket sales at higher prices than the fixed ones, passenger harassment and bus schedule disruptions.
Meanwhile, the country's ticket selling company Shojhoz.com has launched a help center to immediately inform passengers if the bus schedule is disrupted for any reason.
Apart from AC and non-AC buses, sleeper and business class suite buses are becoming popular in Bangladesh. Although these buses previously served only on the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar route, this time they will be operating in the entire country.
AC sleeper and business class suite services will be provided on the Dhaka-North Bengal route, one of the longest highways. Burimari Express, Heritage Travels, Shanto Travels, Shah Ali Paribahan have added these luxurious buses to their fleets.
The country's long-distance public transport sector was largely dependent on the Japanese brand Hino.
Currently, as their sole distributor in the country is unable to bring any new model to the market, bus owners have chosen Mercedes-Benz OF 1623 model as the best alternative to Hino buses.
Due to this, passengers of non-AC buses in the country are choosing this brand of bus for long-distance journeys.
Hanif Enterprise, the country's largest bus company, has also added this bus to its fleet this time.
In addition, buses serving various roads in the country are also trying to bring innovation to their fleet.
Sirajul Islam Riku, Managing Director of Hanif Paribahan, told the media, "We are providing service on the previous routes this time. However, this time we have added 60 new buses on different routes. Out of which, 40 are high-quality Mercedes-Benz. We are not increasing the fare on any route on the occasion of Eid."
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
