Eid holiday-makers start homebound journey from city

Many holiday-makers have started their homebound journey from the city ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr festival amid a fear of trip rescheduling due to the ongoing fuel crisis.

Although the long Eid holiday will begin on March 17, many holiday-makers and service-holders have started sending their families beforehand to avoid the rush during the Eid.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has caused unusually high crowds at petrol pumps in the recent days. The government has set a daily fuel cap for each vehicle. Transport operators have reduced their trips due to fuel supply shortages.

On a visit to some bus counters on Thursday, people were seen travelling home from the city as the weekend began on Friday.

Md Raihan, a service holder, told the FE that his trip from Mohakhali to Rangpur on Friday has been rescheduled from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.

"The bus operator said they could not manage fuel. And, therefore, the journey time was rescheduled," he added.

Abdullah Minhaj, a private sector service holder, came to the Shyamoli bus counter on Pragati Sarani Road to collect tickets for Meherpur.

He said he wanted to collect tickets for his family on Friday, and he would leave Dhaka for his hometown after March 17 by managing ticket.

Shohagh Paribahan Kallyanpur counter ticket manager Md Rezowan told the FE that they do not have available tickets for the Eid trip. People have started leaving Dhaka to meet their families in the countryside.

Sayed Ahmed, a counter manager of Hanif Paribahan in Malibag, told the FE that they have available tickets. The road condition is better now than the last Eid, which might ensure disruption-free Eid journeys this year.

He said there are queues at the fuel stations, mainly to collect diesel. But the situation is likely to be normal before the Eid vacation starts.

One of the major concerns of the holiday-makers is the road condition and huge rush during the two to three days before the Eid day, especially from Dhaka to the northern and western districts.

There are various challenges for people heading to the northern districts, including development work on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, slow construction of a flyover at Elenga, additional traffic pressure, and crossing the Jamuna Bridge.

Every day, 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles from a total of 23 districts ply the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. The number increases more than threefold during the Eid.

Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association Office Secretary Kazi Md Jobair Masud said they do not see any major disruptions in the transport operation for the Eid journey.

"The Eid journey has begun on March 12. Buses have left for destinations from the city.The real situation will be clear from March 17."

He admitted that many of their buses could not be deployed for the Eid trips, as they could not get the required fuel.

He claimed that the situation still remains normal and may not turn into a crisis if the fuel supply becomes ample before the Eid rush.

He said, "As the government has extended the Eid vacation and the road conditions have improved, hassles would be low this time."

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is going to launch 'Eid Special Bus Service' from March 16 to ensure the safe travel of the Eid passengers. Advance ticket sales for the service started on Tuesday.

In another development, the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) has decided to operate special launch and steamer services on two river routes. The MoS, in a press statement on Thursday, said special water vessels would start operation from Shimulia and Basila ghats in the capital from March 17.

Water vessels would run on the Shimulia-Demra-Narayanganj-Chandpur-Kaliganj-Hijla-Barishal route from Shimulia Tourist Ghat adjacent to Kanchan Bridge.

On the other hand, vessels would run from Basila Launch Ghat adjacent to the Basila Bridge in the capital on Basila-Sadarghat-Munshiganj-Chandpur-Eidga-Shariatpur-Ilisha-Hakimuddin-Golachipa route.

Meanwhile, to ensure safety of the holidaymakers and transporters for an uninterrupted Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, Bangladesh Police issued a list of safety advices on Thursday.

Police urged all to refrain from risking their lives by becoming additional passengers on bus roof or traveling in trucks, pickups and other goods-carrying vehicles. Bus drivers should not drive at excessive speed, and do risky overtaking.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar said the Eid-ul-Fitr journey would be hassle-free, as police have taken various measures.

"Additional police forces will be deployed across the city for ensuring safe and sound movement of passengers during the Eid festival," he said while addressing the monthly crime review meeting at the DMP HQ.

He instructed all police members to remain alert, so that no incidents of crime, robbery, or other unlawful activities occur.

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