Like previous years, thousands of residents of Dhaka and the two city corporations - DSCC and DNCC - began leaving the capital in large numbers on Sunday afternoon to celebrate holy Eid-ul-Azha with their families in their hometowns and villages. Over a million likely to leave Dhaka for home to celebrate Eid vacation.
Although Eid travel started moderately over the last three to four days, passenger pressure turned massive on Sunday. Heavy crowds were seen at Kamalapur Railway Station and Banani Railway Station, while inter-district bus terminals at Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Sayedabad also witnessed overwhelming passenger congestion.
Travellers heading to southern districts faced particularly intense crowding. From Sadarghat launch terminal, launches bound for Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Satkhira and other coastal districts left the terminal carrying excessive numbers of passengers.
According to field observations, thousands of people left Dhaka in the hope of celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with loved ones during the long eight-day public holiday beginning May 25.
Road, rail and water transport networks across the country experienced mounting travel pressure throughout the day.
The Eid exodus, which began on Saturday evening on a moderate scale, intensified significantly on Sunday as major bus terminals, railway stations and launch terminals in the capital struggled to handle the overwhelming rush of homebound passengers.
From early morning, long queues of passengers carrying luggage, accompanied by children and elderly family members, were seen waiting anxiously at Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali bus terminals for transport to their destinations.
Although long-distance buses continued leaving the capital one after another, almost every vehicle was packed with passengers.
Transport operators claimed that despite the heavy pressure, most services were operating according to schedule.
However, many passengers complained about slow traffic movement on highways due to the growing number of vehicles.
Several sections of the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways experienced severe congestion, causing considerable suffering for travelers.
Long vehicle queues were also seen at toll plazas and major highway intersections.
Law enforcement agencies and traffic police officials said additional personnel had been deployed at key points to ensure smoother Eid travel. Highway police teams were monitoring traffic movement round the clock to reduce congestion and prevent accidents during the festive rush.
Kamalapur Railway Station witnessed huge crowds of homebound passengers throughout the day. Travelers gathered on platforms hours before train departures. Besides passengers with confirmed tickets, many people were also trying to secure standing tickets for different destinations.
Railway authorities said several initiatives had been taken to make Eid travel more comfortable, including attaching additional coaches to intercity trains. A number of special Eid trains have also been introduced to cope with growing passenger demand.
Security arrangements at railway stations were strengthened, but many passengers complained about overcrowding inside stations, which made movement extremely difficult, particularly for women, children and elderly people.
Meanwhile, launches bound for Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and Chandpur carried excessive passenger loads, with cabins and deck spaces becoming full long before departure.
Many travelers said they preferred waterways because launch journeys are comparatively more comfortable than road travel during Eid. However, overcrowding at terminals and on launches created additional suffering, especially for women and children.
Traffic congestion also intensified in areas surrounding bus terminals, railway stations and launch terminals in the capital. Due to the heavy pressure of buses, private cars, rickshaws and ride-sharing vehicles, many passengers had to leave their homes much earlier than scheduled to avoid missing their transport.
Law enforcement agencies said strict security measures had been taken nationwide to ensure safe Eid travel. Additional police members were deployed at transport hubs, while plainclothes security personnel were working to prevent theft, robbery and harassment targeting travelers.
The intense summer heat further added to passenger suffering. Children and elderly people were seen struggling because of overcrowding and high temperatures at stations and terminals. Despite the hardship, many travelers said the joy of returning home to loved ones made the suffering worthwhile.
Transport sector insiders believe the pressure of Eid travel will increase further in the coming days after government and private offices begin official holidays. Authorities advised passengers to begin their journeys early and remain cautious while traveling.
Road Transport, Railways and Waterways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said there was no major risk of train schedule disruption despite the growing passenger pressure ahead of Eid.
Talking to journalists after visiting the Kamalapur Railway Station on Sunday, the minister said train services are being operated with maximum caution by using existing railway lines and locomotives.
Yet he acknowledged that the passenger demand for train travel has increased sharply , but the transport capacity is inadequate.
According to the minister, intercity trains from Dhaka usually carry around 32,000 passengers daily. However, due to the issuance of 25 percent additional tickets during Eid, railway authorities are currently transporting nearly 40,000 passengers each day. Still, Eid demand exceeds 100,000 passengers daily.
He further said the online ticketing system has significantly reduced ticket black marketing, compared to previous years. Authorities have also added 51 extra coaches on different routes to ensure smoother Eid travel, the minister maintained.
