Reza Mahmud :
Passengers intending of go home on the occasion of the Holy Eid-ul-Azha returned disappointed from the bus companies’ ticket counters yesterday. The salesmen said, most of the tickets had been sold online. At this,the passengers’ questioned: How were all the tickets sold so quickly in few hours?
“I stood there in the queue for two hours to buy a ticket for Dinajpur, but a salesman said that all the tickets for September 8 were sold. Hearing it, a passenger said, Tuesday was the first day of Eid ticket selling, but how did they sell all tickets in the morning?” Ahmed Sagir, a businessman of Mirpur supported him at Gabtoli bus terminal yesterday. He wanted to buy a ticket of Nabil Paribahan.
Passengers for Bogra, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Syedpur, Thakurgaon and Nilphamari created a huge gathering in front the Nabil Paribahan counter.
When contacted, one of the salesmen of the counter said preferring anonymity that most of their tickets were sold online.
“The online selling is easier for the transport owners, because it needs less manpower, counter and costs,” he said.
Muhammad Amin Nabi, Manager of SR Travels, said, the online ticket selling is increasing day by day. He said, most of their Eid tickets were sold online.
Ahmed Asif, Manager of Desh Travels, said they have no pressure on their counters because the tickets were sold online.
Sources said, due to increasing of online and smart phone users, the online ticket selling rose. But passengers said, they were undone failing to manage the tickets standing for hours in queue.
The ticket seekers rushed to Gabtoli, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli and Motijheel counters of different bus services of various destinations in the country from 6:00 AM. Most of them were seeking bus tickets for September 8, 9 and 10.
When some passengers got the tickets, they expressed their happiness. But most of the passengers were angry due to lack of sufficient tickets.
“If they sell their tickets digitally, why did they open the counters to make us sufferers?” Said, Anwarul Karim an employee of a private company after he failed to collect ticket for Khulna for September 8 or 9.
“I wanted a ticket for September 9 but became unsuccessful. Then I managed one for September 10, I am not unhappy,” said, Hashim Mahbub of Chittagong bound businessman.
On the other hand, some bus services have not yet started Eid ticket selling. At the Motijheel counter of the Soudia Paribahan there were few passengers.
Sohel Ahmed, one of the salesmen of the counter said, they have not yet started Eid ticket selling. At the same time, Sakura, Eagle, Purbasha and Golden Line, among others, will start Eid ticket selling next Friday.
The transport owners and staff claimed that they are charging normal fare. But some passengers accused the countermen of realising extra money from them.
