Every Year government takes additional steps to facilitate Eid travel and the measures announced demonstrate the government’s intention to improve travel conditions. but past experiences show that such plans fail to deliver the expected results. Every year similar initiatives are announced, yet passengers continue to suffer from excessive fares, overcrowded vehicles and severe traffic congestion.
Besides, unsafe road and ferryghat still reminds us of the Daulatdia tragedy in which at least 26 passengers perished as a bus sank into the Padma at the ferryghat.
As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, the risk of severe travel disruption at the country’s key river crossings demands urgent attention. Nowhere is the concern more pressing than at Paturia, the principal gateway to 21 southwestern districts. Situated on the banks of the Padma River, the terminal serves as a lifeline for thousands of vehicles and passengers daily.
Under normal conditions, 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles cross the Paturia–Daulatdia route each day. Ahead of Eid, that number can surge to 4,000 or even 5,000. With only two of the five ferry ghats fully operational, the system is already under strain.
Approach roads riddled with potholes further slow vehicle movement, making boarding and disembarking difficult. Without swift intervention, these bottlenecks could multiply during peak travel days.
The situation at the launch terminal is equally concerning. It is ill-equipped to handle the surge of Eid passengers. Steep and unsafe access paths pose hazards, particularly for elderly travellers and families carrying luggage.
Importantly, the problem is not confined to Paturia alone. Across the country, several ferry terminals and highways remain in poor condition. Each Eid season brings familiar scenes of congestion and suffering—passengers waiting under the open sky, drivers trapped in gridlock, and families missing valuable time together. These disruptions are not inevitable; they reflect delays in maintenance, weak coordination and inadequate contingency planning.
District administrations always instruct relevant agencies to ensure smooth operations. Emergency funds should be released without delay to complete repairs to all ghats and pontoons. Approach roads must be resurfaced, and traffic management plans—including staggered vehicle entry and enhanced law enforcement presence—should be enforced.
Eid is a time of reunion and reflection. The journey home should not become an ordeal marked by uncertainty and hardship. The authorities must act decisively—repair the terminals, strengthen infrastructure and ensure safe crossings. Prompt and coordinated measures will spare millions from avoidable suffering.
