All roads leading to the three inter-district bus terminals, Kamalpur railway station and Sadarghat launch terminal in the capital experienced long tailback on Wednesday as thousands of people headed home with Eid holiday beginning on Friday.
Congestion tailed back from Sadarghat till the Purana Paltan crossing in the morning while vehicles near the bus terminals and the railway station also moved at snail’s pace with passengers remaining helpless with their heavy luggage.
Some of the passengers travelling light and stranded in the snarl-up got off the vehicles and walked down towards the terminals and the station to reach there on time, witnesses said.
Transport companies, exploiting the huge rush of home-bound people on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, were allegedly charging extra fares from their passengers.
People travelling on Wednesday complained they had no option but to pay them high to reach home to celebrate Eid, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims.
Their joy and festivity was also marred by different kinds of harassment like the hassle of getting a seat, unexpected delay in the travelling and overcrowded launch terminals and rail stations, thanks to the mismanagement on the part of the transport authorities.
Many passengers, mostly working class people and mid-income groups, fell prey to the deception by dishonest transport workers the law enforcing agencies kept a blind eye.
Desperate Eid passengers were seen riding on rooftops of bus, trains and launches.
Transport industry sources said the major rush is expected to be seen today (Thursday) when the government Eid holidays would begin.
A special train service was delayed by more than an hour to start the journey from Kamalapur rail station on Thursday morning because of ‘technical faults’ that had effects on other train services.
During a visit to the city’s different bus and launch terminals, it was found that most of the transport companies were selling tickets at high prices.
‘I had to pay Tk 200 for traveling to Patuakhali riding on the deck of the steamer whereas the usual fare ranges from Tk 100 to Tk 120,’ Abdul Gaffar, a passenger of MV Suravi, told New Age at Sadarghat launch terminal on Wednesday.
Ratan, a Jamalpur-bound passenger, had to pay Tk 250 to buy a ticket of Rajib Enterprise from Mohakhali inter-district bus terminal which is Tk 50 more than the usual fare.
According to the fare chart hung on the counter of Rajib Enterprise, the fare for traveling to Jamalpur is Tk 197 and Tk 220 (for a different route).
Asked why such extra fare is being charged, a staff at the counter said, ‘Brother, it is usual that we would take Tk 30-40 more during the Eid.’
Akota bus service which carries Bogra-bound passengers was also seen charging extra fare.
‘The normal fare for traveling to Bogra from Mohakhali is Tk 240, but now they are charging Tk 300 per ticket,’ Abdul Latif, a passenger told this correspondent, while standing in the queue to buy a ticket.
Similar allegations were received from people at the Gabtali bus terminal though the way of exacting extra fares are different.
According to the fare chart hung at the counter by the government and the bus owners association, the fare for traveling from Dhaka’s Gabtali bus terminal to Bagerhat is Tk 363 for normal coach and Tk 456 for chair coach.
The fair for traveling to Khulna is Tk 335 for normal coach and Tk 420 chair coach, for Jessore Tk 285 and Tk 355, Benapole Tk 316 and Tk 397, Satkhira Tk 337 and Tk 423, Jhineda Tk 259 and Tk 322 and Barisal Tk 320 and Tk 398.
‘I have bought a ticket to Khulna for Tk 330, though throughout the year the fare was Tk 280,’ said Sohel, who managed to procure a ticket from Eagle Paribahan.
Many passengers alleged that they were forced to ride on the normal coach, even after the bus authorities charged the fare of chair coach.
Talking to reporters, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque brushed denied the allegation of any kind of misconduct at the bus terminals.
‘I asked some homebound passengers at Gabtoli terminal whether they were forced to pay extra by the bus owners and they all replied in the negative.’ Shahidul Haque said.
