Special Correspondent :
Thousands of people have started leaving the city by trains, buses and water vessels to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with dear and near ones in their hometowns and villages.
The Eid is expected to be celebrated on June 16, depending on sighting of moon.
The city bus and launch terminals and railway stations witnessed huge rush of homebound passengers yesterday as they made their all-out efforts to embark on their journeys braving rains and defying all hassles.
Those who had no advance tickets had to wait for hours together for tickets and once they managed tickets they had to fight in buses, trains and launches for seats.
According to some estimates, more than seven million people leave Dhaka twice in a year during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.
While visiting the Kamlapur Railway Railways Station, this correspondent found that the station was packed with passengers, as most families with children and luggage prefer trains to buses due to deplorable conditions of national highways.
Most trains left the station on schedule with overcrowded passengers.
Abdus Salam, an Iswardhy-bound passenger, said they are happy that the authorities have been able to maintain train schedule and restore discipline at the platforms by restricting the entrance of those having no tickets.
Kamalapur Station Master Nripendra Nath Saha said, “The main rush of Eid-passengers has started from Tuesday while the pressure of passengers is expected to reach peak on Thursday and Friday morning.”
He also said that they are making their all-out efforts to maintain the train schedules.
The Bangladesh Railway is operating seven special trains to cater heavy rush of commuters. The booking on special trains has already been completed.
Heavy rush was also seen at Gabtoli bus terminal, the largest bus terminal in the capital. The homebound passengers had to suffer a lot at Gabtoli as some buses were running behind their schedules. Many passengers also made usual complaints of overcharging by the transporters.
“I am traveling to my city Kushtia by paying double bus fare,” said passenger Zakaria Khan at Gabtoli bus terminal.
Transport operators, however, justified the increase claiming the buses returned empty and they got only 10 to 20 percent occupancy from other cities to Dhaka.
They, however, reported no tailback on the national highways.
