People heading home ahead of the Eid holidays have been seeing mostly smooth journeys, with trains departing Dhaka's Kamalapur Railway Station largely on schedule and passengers without advance bookings still able to get standing tickets.
The fourth day of Eid travel by train passed without major disruption on Monday, a day before the start of the official holiday.
Kamalapur Station Manager Md Sajedul Islam said 22 trains had left the station between morning and 1pm.
Among them, the "Nilsagar Express" to the north left about half an hour late, he claimed, while the remaining trains departed on time.
He said the authorities had a multi-dimensional plan to make Eid journeys "comfortable" and hoped that everything would "remain normal" this time.
Arzan Khan, who was waiting at the platform in Kamalapur Railway Station, said he felt the urge that many people feel to return to their roots and their dear ones on Eid.
He said, "It doesn't even feel like Eid if one fails to go home. We must go to our village homes, whatever the cost. That's why I bought the ticket in advance."
A native of Shayestaganj in Sylhet, Arzan lives in Dhaka's Mirpur and works at a private company. His Eid vacation will start from Tuesday, but to "avoid trouble", he is sending his wife and children ahead, putting them on the train.
He said, "It is typical for the crowd to intensify when the vacation starts from tomorrow, so I am sending my wife and children in advance. I bought the tickets online. There was no problem."
Riasat, a private sector employee, bought a ticket to Brahmanbaria on the same train. He said, "This time, the station seems to be in good condition. Tickets are being checked several times as people enter. If such strict rules are maintained, it will be good for those of us who bought tickets."
Billal, another passenger, bought a standing ticket for the same train after failing to get a ticket online. The Brahmanbaria native said, "I tried online but couldn't get a ticket. But I have to go home no matter what happens. So, I came to the station and got a standing ticket. There is no crowd today, I think I can travel comfortably." "bdnews24
