For thousands of the residents the way back to the capital on Saturday was no cakewalk. After celebrating Eid and Durga puja in the countryside they had to brave many hurdles on their way back.
For many the journey back to the city with wives and children was nothing short of nightmares due to long traffic jams on highways, ferry and launch terminals and over crowded trains and launches.
Added to these was the bad experience of having to pay extra fares due to artificial scarcity of tickets.
But the journey back to work was unavoidable as the offices and educational institutions are due to open today after the vacation.
Jasimuddin said, on return from Bhola, he cut short his stay in the countryside due to political uncertainties as he thought it would be the best thing to do under the circumstances.
Usually, he said, he utilizes such vacations to spend a few more days at home.
Many people complained they had to pay extra fares and faced other irregularities on their way back to the city with their children and other family members.
Nurul Islam said that he had to return from Barisal in the launch Parabat-5, which carried passengers, nearly double its capacity.
He said several fellow passengers were drugged and robbed by criminal gangs.
People keen to return to work found it difficult to get bus tickets for October 18, 19 and 20, he said.
He said that exploiting the situation transport operators charged higher fares.
No tailbacks were reported from Dhaka–Tangail highway.
The picture on Dhaka-Chittagong highway was also bearable.
On way back to the city passengers suffered immensely having to wait in long queues of vehicles at Daulatdia and Paturia ferry terminals.
Sayedur Rahman told New Age on return from Satkhira that he had to spend over three hours at the ferry terminal.
Many passengers could be seen arriving Kamalapur railway station from different places standing footboards or on the rooftops of over crowded trains.
The journey back to the capital was no different from what the passengers had experienced while leaving it, said many.
Due to tailbacks on the highways, hundreds of passengers remained stranded for hours at bus counters in the northern districts.
-With New Age input
