A large number of passengers on different routes, who are returning home for Eid-ul-Azha, will face serious problems because of poor roads, a shortage of vehicles, locomotives and vessels along with ticket mismanagement and safety issues.
It is expected that some seven to eight million homebound people will leave the capital to celebrate the biggest festival of the Muslims, Eid-ul-Azha, with their relatives in villages across the country.
Besides, passengers apprehend they will suffer on the highways as a result of traffic congestion, bumpy roads, accidents and extortion. Another problem is that illegal cattle markets have been set up on the highways.
Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Bus and Truck Owners’ Association and Bangladesh Launch Owners’ Association have already started selling advance tickets.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Roads and Highways, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) have already cancelled the holidays of the officials concerned to ensure that the journey of the homebound passengers is smooth.
Allegations have been levelled that black marketers have purchased the lion’s share of tickets as they hope to make a quick buck by selling the tickets to the passengers. Passengers also said they were not getting tickets as most of them were being sold on the black market, as a result of which they have to pay extra.
Ali Kadam, a Rangpur-bound passenger who was standing in the queue for hours in front of Nabil Paribahan at Gabtoli in the city, complained that he had to pay a premium for a ticket.
Communications minister Obaidul Quader has directed the authorities to take necessary steps immediately to ensure hassle-free movement of homebound passengers on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Azha. He also directed them to stop traders from setting up illegal cattle markets on roads and highways in order to ensure smooth traffic movement during holidays.
Quader claimed that the condition of roads and highways across the country is much better than at any time in the past.
“Although the rains have damaged some roads, we are hopeful of renovating those roads before the holy Eid to ensure smooth movement of the homebound passengers,” he added.
Railways minister M Mujibul Haq said Bangladesh Railway will introduce nine special trains for homebound passengers during the holy Eid-ul-Azha. Besides, additional coaches will be added to intercity, mail and express trains, he added. The nine special trains will ply on the Dhaka-Dewanganj-Dhaka, Chittagong-Chandpur-Chittagong, Parbatipur-Dhaka-Parbatipur and Dhaka-Khulna-Dhaka routes. Goods trains will not ply for five days on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Intelligence personnel will remain active around one square kilometre of Dhaka railway station to prevent black marketing of tickets and members of law enforcement agencies will look after the security measures, the minister said, adding that all officials and employees have been asked to be prepared to deal with any accident.
BIWTA chairman Shamsuddoha Khandaker said different government agencies, law enforcement agencies and launch operators would take precautionary measures since this year’s Eid rush would coincide with the rainy season.
“It is estimated that around 70 to 80 lakh passengers will travel on different routes from the Sadarghat launch terminal during Eid,” he said.
He also said the BIWTA would not allow any sand-laden cargo vessel from October 10 till the end of the Eid rush to preclude accidents. Scores of old, faulty and unfit launches are can be seen getting quick repairs and facelifts on the banks of the Buriganga in South Keraniganj. It is alleged that these will be used to carry passengers on various riverine routes ahead of Eid.
Special launch services for the homebound passengers would be started from October 11, he said. Rescue vessels will be deployed at Barisal, Narayanganj, Kishorganj and Aricha to deal with any untoward incident, the BIWTA chairman added. According to BIWTA, normally 30,000 to 40,000 passengers travel every day on the 39 river routes.
To cash in on the holiday rush, some bus owners are allegedly refurbishing their old and unfit vehicles and will ply them on the roads, showing a nonchalant disregard for safety issues.
Some 3,000 buses will leave the Gabtoli bus terminal daily, with an average capacity of 36 seats. Around 3,000 buses will carry around 10,000 passengers every day on different routes of the southern part of the country during Eid. The BRTC will operate around 300 buses on the same route.
The inadequate number of buses could mean that people will prefer the railways and river routes. However, the low capacity of the railways could further force passengers to opt for river routes. According to some passengers, there should be more trains, as there is no alternative to the railways when it comes to a safe journey. It is estimated that about 40 lakh people will leave the capital on river routes to the southern part of the country to celebrate Eid with their family and friends.
“During the Eid vacation, on an average over one lakh homebound people leave the capital every day,” said Saiful Haque Khan, joint director of the Sadarghat marine safety and traffic management department. According to the department of shipping sources, more than 23,000 unregistered vessels operate on different routes across the country.
Since 1976, statistics show that more than 4,400 people have been killed and 509 injured in accidents on the country’s river routes. Of the 9,024 vessels registered with the shipping department, 971 are passenger vessels, 23 are ferries and 80 are tugboats.
-With The Independent input
