Syed Shemul Parvez :
People are leaving the capital early to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families. Eid holiday is starting from April 29. Many people have not been able to celebrate Eid with their families in the last two years due to the Corona epidemic. This time everyone is getting the opportunity to share the joy of Eid with the family and relatives as there is no effect of corona. Due to this, the crowds of passengers in Kamalapur and Gabtali of the capital were eye-catching.
On Sunday (April 24), the same picture was seen while visiting the Kalyanpur, Technical, Gabtali, Mohakhali and Saydabad bus terminal area of the capital. Khalid Hasan Jewel, a Khulna-bound passenger at the Gabtoli bus terminal, told the media that he was leaving Dhaka earlier this year as he had not been able to celebrate Eid with his family for the past two years. This year we will be able to celebrate Eid with our family as there is no epidemic. In the last two years, we have witnessed an unimaginable experience. This year, however, relief has returned.
But there was only traffic jam across the Dhaka city. It took me couple of hours to come here from Azimpur, Khalid said. The density of traffic congestion in the city without Eid holidays, the intensity will be more with the holidays, he added.
Meanwhile, another passenger named Ariful Islam, who was on his way to Barisal from Dhaka, said, this time I am going home town earlier because I don’t want to take any more risks this time.
Another passenger said on condition of anonymity that Eid falls prey to the mismanagement in Dhaka city. Homebound people are facing a lot of problems due to various reasons including extra rent, non-availability of seats and traffic jams.
The administration should take such steps so that people do not suffer this fasting time. Let everyone reach home on time and share the joy of Eid with their family members, he added.
Rakin Hossain, counter master of Hanif Paribahan in Kalyanpur, said people are under a lot of pressure to return home this Eid. Since the 20th April, human pressure has increased. Though advance tickets are sold out, passenger demand is not ending.
Besides, the public holiday has not started yet. This year’s Eid journey may be subject to car crisis, he said.
Meanwhile, Nazrul Islam. Secretary of the Department
of Road Transport and Highways has expressed hope that homebound people will not suffer as the traffic jam will be at a tolerable level. He made the remarks in response to a question from reporters at a function in the Secretariat on Sunday (April 24).
Mentionable that unusual pressure on Sadarghat terminal of Dhaka exists. It is said that about 4 million people from three districts including Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj metropolis will go to the coastal districts by waterway. But there are no enough vessels to carry unusual pressure of Eid goers.
As a result, the National Committee has suggested increasing the number of vessels in the alternative system for safe Eid journey, proper management and strict vigilance of all concerned authorities including law and order forces.
