With Eid-ul-Fitr just around the corner, Bangladesh Railway (BR) yesterday started facilitating the home-goers. On the day, trains faced moderate pressure of passengers, with several north-bound trains running behind schedule.
People also left Dhaka by roads and launches yesterday. The Eid journey is likely to get momentum from today.
Government offices will go into a long holiday from Friday, thanks to the weekends and May Day. So, many will leave Dhaka after finishing office to celebrate Eid, likely to be celebrated on May 2 or 3, at their home-towns.
TRAIN SERVICES
Trains passengers, who bought advance tickets on April 23, left Dhaka mainly through Kamalapur Railway Station yesterday.
Riadul Islam, a private-service holder, said he managed the ticket of Mohonganj Express after waiting for more than eight hours in line.
"However, I am feeling good now, as we are not facing that much hassle to board the train," he told this correspondent from the train, which left half an hour after the scheduled time.
Some other trains going to northern districts were also running behind schedule.
Rangpur Express, Dhumketu Express, Sundarban Express, Banalata Express and Rajshahi Commuter were among the trains that got delayed by half an hour to one and a half hours, BR sources said.
Although Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan in a recent press conference told reporters that each train during Eid rush will have a separate coach for women, this correspondent did not find any such arrangement after checking four trains yesterday. BR staffers also confirmed that no such arrangement was made.
Meanwhile, people yesterday collected advance tickets for May 1.
JOURNEY BY BUS, LAUNCH
Many people also left Dhaka by roads and launches. However, there was no major pressure.
People who used Shimulia-Banglabazar, Shimulia-Majhikandi and Aricha-Kazirhat ferry routes faced trouble yesterday due to long tailbacks there.
On Aricha-Kazirhat route, on Jamuna river, service is being hampered due to shortage of ferries. Only three ferries are plying the route. Normally, around 350 vehicles cross the river every day. The number of vehicles doubled during Eid rush, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) officials.
On Shimulia-Banglabazar and Shimulia-Majhikandi routes, only eight small ferries remain operational, despite the huge rush of vehicles. Only private cars, microbuses and pick-up vans are allowed to board ferries on this route.
Earlier, ferry operation on these routes remained suspended for over six months, after ferries collided with the Padma Bridge pillar at least four times last year.
Meanwhile, an official of BIWTA said Sadarghat Launch Terminal witnessed normal pressure yesterday. They, however, thought the rush would start getting momentum today.
