A massive rush of Eid holidaymakers crowded Kamalapur Railway Station on Wednesday as thousands of people left Dhaka to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their families, despite unfavorable weather conditions and train delays.
Heavy passenger pressure was seen at the country’s main railway terminal from early morning, with overcrowded platforms and packed trains, particularly on routes bound for northern districts.
Many passengers complained of transport disruptions, delays and shortages of seats. Several said they were unable to occupy their reserved seats despite purchasing tickets, while others failed to board trains because of excessive crowds.
Some passengers were also seen travelling on train rooftops, risking their lives in an attempt to reach home ahead of the Eid holidays.
According to railway authorities, 18 trains departed from Kamalapur Railway Station by 10:00am on Wednesday. Among them, the Nilsagar Express left the station nearly three hours behind schedule.
Director General of Bangladesh Railway Afzal Hossain said adverse weather conditions forced trains to operate at slower speeds.
He added that additional time was also needed to ensure safe boarding and disembarkation of passengers and expressed hope that passenger pressure would decrease after noon.
Regarding rooftop travel, the railway chief said authorities were trying to prevent the risky practice, but the overwhelming passenger volume and efforts to avoid chaos at the station made enforcement difficult in many cases.
TZ
