The usual rush of homebound passengers was seen on roads, launches and railways in the capital on Thursday, and the pressure is expected to intensify over the next few days as millions leave Dhaka to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their families.
From early morning, heavy crowds gathered at bus terminals, railway stations and launch terminals, with thousands travelling simultaneously by road, rail and waterways.
At the Gabtoli Bus Terminal, most long-distance buses departed on schedule, offering some relief to travellers. However, some passengers alleged that certain operators were charging fares above government-approved rates, claims transport owners denied.
Transport operators said traffic congestion was disrupting fuel collection and delaying some services. On highways, many passengers, including women and children, were forced to wait for hours due to excessive pressure and a shortage of public transport.
Some people resorted to travelling in trucks and pickup vans because of high fares and limited transport availability. Severe congestion stretching several kilometres was reported in the Chandura area of Gazipur, mainly due to roadside passenger pickups.
At Kamalapur Railway Station, large crowds gathered from early morning as passengers rushed to board trains. Railway authorities introduced special security measures to prevent roof-top travel.
Station Manager Kabir Hossain said a three-tier security system had been deployed and only ticket-holding passengers were being allowed inside the station. Around 70,000 tickets, including standing tickets, were being issued daily to manage the Eid rush.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges acknowledged that handling both Eid travel and livestock transportation would be a major challenge this year.
Officials said preparations had been taken to ensure smooth travel despite the movement of millions of passengers within a short time. However, they admitted that transporting passengers and sacrificial animals simultaneously remained a major logistical challenge.
Concerns have also been raised over possible severe congestion on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway because of increased traffic pressure, construction work, rain and the movement of unfit vehicles.
Transport workers and drivers warned that livestock-carrying vehicles and unfit transports could worsen the situation, recalling previous Eid journeys on the route that took over 15 hours.
Law enforcement agencies said additional police personnel, monitoring systems and traffic control measures had been deployed. Around 800 police officers have been assigned along the 65-kilometre highway stretch.
On waterways, more than 50 launches have been prepared for Eid travel, mainly on the Bhola-Dhaka route. Workers were seen cleaning and maintaining vessels to ensure safe travel.
Authorities said strict monitoring measures have been introduced at major terminals, involving the Coast Guard, Navy Police, RAB and BIWTA officials to ensure safe and smooth Eid journey.
