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A large number of city-dwellers were seen on Monday leaving the capital by buses, launches and trains for their ancestral homes in different districts to celebrate the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones.
From early morning, trains carrying Eid trippers departed from the Kamalapur Railway Station.
A large crowd of passengers was in sight while most trains left the station on schedule, bringing relief to the travellers.
To avoid last-minute hassles, many were on the way home ahead of the government holiday.
Especially relatively busy people sent family members to their village homes first in advance to make the Eid journey smooth, safe and secure.
A railway official said that they were continuing sincere efforts to maintain train schedule exactly.
Ticket counters for long-distance buses in the terminals were seen overwhelmingly crowded and busy.
Passengers were seen gathering in groups at various bus counters to collect tickets for their respective destinations.
Many were seen moving from one counter to another in the hope of getting desired tickets.
Transport officials said that pressure of Eid passengers has already peaked up.
Pressure of vehicles on the road from Kalyanpur to Gabtoli was slightly higher, causing traffic congestion in many places.
Traffic police officials were busy controlling vehicular movement at various points of the road.
Meanwhile, a huge crowd of Eid holidaymakers thronged the Dhaka River Port Terminal - also widely known as Sadarghat Launch Terminal- to take water vessels to reach their respective destinations.
Despite modern roads and railways, waterway appears to be a reliable, comfortable and popular means of communication to the people especially those who live near riverbanks and in the south-western districts of Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Borguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi as well as south-eastern districts of Noakhali, Chandpur and Laxmipur.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, the Naval Police and other authorities concerned have taken initiatives to make people's Eid journey on the waterways safe, smooth and comfortable.
An increased number of passengers were seen at the Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Monday compared to other previous days during the current month of Ramadan this year.
Law enforcement agencies already beefed up security measures at the terminal ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims.
A BIWTA official told the FE that the authorities have ensured neat and clean washrooms, breastfeeding corners and waiting rooms to facilitate passengers.
"I prefer to take a launch to go home every year during Eid. I think that a launch is the best way to travel comfortably at lower cost, avoiding road congestion. Launches can carry more bags, there is an opportunity to walk and rest, which is comfortable during a long journey," Md Jakir Hossain told the FE on Monday afternoon.
The shipping ministry also took measurers for ensuring safety and proper service to passengers on waterways.
The Launch Owners' Association made efforts to ensure smooth passenger service, not allowing passengers to board or disembark midway, and asking authorities to keep adequate life jackets and buoys on the launches.
An official of Dhaka-Barisal-Dhaka route launch Parabat-2 said that though passengers' numbers were rising there was no pressure still now, adding the actual crowd will increase after two-three days.
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