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Bus terminals, railway stations and launch terminal have witnessed a big rush of holidaymakers as big a number of city-dwellers left Dhaka for their native homes to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their near and dear ones.
Passengers during their journey expressed satisfaction for being able to leave Dhaka smoothly and in a hassle-free way.
On Monday, a large number of Eid holidaymakers left the capital Dhaka to avoid the last-minute rush for the festival.
Increased traffic caused tailbacks in different parts of the city, including Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover.
Television footage also showed slow traffic in some points of the major highways including Dhaka-Gazipur highway.
Government officials and employees are getting a five-day holiday in a row on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha; as a circular was issued declaring June 27 as public holiday, extending the vacation by one day.
Our correspondents while visiting Kamalapur Railway Station and Sadarghat Launch Terminal saw a large number of people leaving the capital on the third day of Eid trip on Monday.
The first two days witnessed a normal pressure of passengers. Although train tickets for Eid were booked online, crowd for standing tickets increased.
Since Monday morning, travellers were seen flocking to the station in a large number.
Security at the railway station was satisfactory. Law enforcement agencies remained alert to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey for the home-goers.
Many passengers gathered in a disciplined manner at different booths of the station to buy standing tickets.
Sources at the railway station said on the second day of Eid journey on Sunday, 50,000 people left Dhaka by trains.
This year too, 25 per cent of the total seats are being sold without seats or standing tickets.
These tickets are kept available from Dhaka, Dhaka Cantonment, Airport and Joydevpur Station.
However, tickets without seats can be purchased from the station counters on the day of departure. This time, about 29,000 tickets have been sold daily for the intercity trains from Dhaka during the Eid journey.
More than 50,000 commuters and intercity commuters left Dhaka yesterday.
Talking to The Financial Express, Ekram, a railway police official, said the railway authorities are trying heart and soul to ensure a safe and comfortable Eid journey for passengers.
A three-tier checking system has been set up. No one can enter the station without a ticket. All trains are leaving on time, he added.
Bakul Miah, a private firm employee, expressed his full satisfaction as the railway authorities have been able to ensure a hassle-free journey for him and other holidaymakers.
"I heard that the Eid trip was going on smoothly. I felt and found the same when I arrived at the station at noon. Trains were not delayed," he said.
Jewel, who works at a private firm in Dhaka, said he was waiting for a Chattogram-bound train scheduled for 4:30 pm on Monday.
Expressing satisfaction with overall management of the railway authorities, he said he has witnessed a trouble-free Eid journey this time.
Meanwhile, the railway authorities have sold cent per cent tickets online on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Passengers have expressed their satisfaction as they received Eid advance and return tickets through online platform.
Advance tickets were sold for Eid-ul-Azha from June 14 to 18 and return tickets from June 22 to 26.
A significant number of homebound people thronged at major bus terminals like Gabtali, Mohakhali, Fulbaria and Syedabad in Dhaka.
A good number of people gathered at ticket counters of SA Paribahan, Hanif, Nabil, Shyamoli, Agomoni, Bablu, Pabna Express, Shohagh, Golden Line, Darshana Deluxe to leave the capital.
Earlier, Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association started advance ticket sale from June 13. But the most demand for tickets is Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Eid holidaymakers rushed on Monday to Dhaka River Port Terminal at Sadarghat in the capital to go to their respective destinations for celebrating Eid-ul- Azha.During a visit, the FE correspondent found a significant number of passengers leaving the launch terminal for southern districts by launches of different routes while others were waiting for launches.
As Eid-ul-Azha holiday will start today (Tuesday), the number of passengers waiting at the terminal was significant on Monday.
Eid-ul- Azha will be celebrated on Thursday.
Launch operators said they were not charging extra from the passengers.
To facilitate journey of the Eid holidaymakers, they will operate a sufficient number of launches considering interest of the passengers.
Law enforcing agency personnel were deployed at the launch terminal to ensure safety and security of the passengers.