Thousands of homebound passengers are facing terrible sufferings due to shortage of transport just three days ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and most of the bus terminals, railway stations and launch terminal were found jampacked. Even taking risk of life, passengers are crowding in buses, trains and launches beyond their carrying capacity as there is no other alternative to travel to their respective destinations.
Source said the private operators have increased their daily trips to 2,600 from 1,700, while the number of launches raised from 35 to more than 100. Bangladesh Railway has added extra compartments to its 78 trains running on different inter-district routes.
Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Waterways Transport Association yesterday said that nearly one million people would leave the capital city for their village homes by launches from Sadarghat Launch Terminal. At least 40 launches are leaving the terminal every day for different parts of the country.
Railway officials said special, inter-city, commuter, mail and local trains are now running at full capacity from Kamalapur, Joydebpur, Dhaka Cantonment and Airport railway stations.
M Akhtaruzzaman, additional director general (operation) of Bangladesh Railway said the number of passengers became double for Eid. In a day 70,000 people can travel to respective destinations by 78 trains from the different stations of the country.
Sources said that 2,600 buses leave the capital’s major bus terminals like Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali every day and carrying about one lakh homebound people.
Hemayat Ullah, a Barisal bound passenger told The New Nation at Sadarghat launch terminal that all the tickets of this terminal have already been sold out.
“The launch tickets are fully booked. I could not manage a ticket for me and my family members after waiting for hours in the terminal. He was even ready to pay more money than the fix rate considering the huge rush. But he failed to collect tickets,” Hemayet added.
Talking to The New Nation, an official of Hanif Paribahan’s counter said, ”We started selling of advance tickets for Eid from August 25. How can you expect an advance ticket just four days before the Eid?.”
While visiting the Sadarghat Launch Terminal it was found that launches and even boats were carrying passengers more than their capacity.
“I know it is very risky to travel but I have no other alternative to reach my home,” said Harun Joy, a home bound passenger of Patuakhali.
Sources said the better off section of society are availing airways on Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Jessore and Sylhet routes from the capital to go to their homes ahead of the Eid.
