City dwellers have started leaving the capital to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, with their near and dear ones at their ancestral villages.
Many homebound people have left for their homes early to avoid the rush-hour traffic and suffering ahead of Eid. Some have sent their families home early, taking extra leave with the public holiday.
Many others bought tickets to go home on the last working day (Thursday). As a result, many people left for home after attending the office on the last working day.
Passengers have crowded the railway stations and bus terminals since Thursday morning. Passengers with special tickets for trains, buses and launches started their homebound journey on Wednesday.
During visit to Sayedabad, Mohakhali and Gabtoli bus terminals, Kamalapur Railway Station and Sadarghat launch terminal, it was found that people from different places of the capital were flocking there to board the vehicles.
The buses left the terminals one by one, full of passengers on their Eid journeys.
Hundreds of people also crowded into Kamalapur Railway Station for leaving the capital. The railway authorities said that this year’s Eid journey is relaxed as no one can enter the platform without ticket.
On the other hand, passengers suffered a lot due to nagging traffic congestion on the roads around the bus terminals.
A huge crowd of passengers was seen at Sadarghat launch terminal on Thursday. So far, Eid journey by launch has also become comfortable.
Launch owners have increased the number of launches to facilitate the journey of passengers. But the passengers have to suffer due to traffic jam on the road from Gulistan to Sadarghat.
The public holidays for Eid-ul-Azha will begin on June 14, but people are leaving the capital to avoid transport-related hassle.
The streets that once teemed with activity began to empty as residents embark on journeys to reunite with their near and dear ones.
The number of private cars and buses on the main roads is also decreasing with time, as is the number of rickshaws on the roads inside the lanes.
There was no traffic jam on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway on Thursday. Some passengers said that they reached Cumilla from Dhaka and Chattogram very easily.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Highway Cumilla Region Khairul Alam told reporters that the highway has been cleared of traffic jam as planned. Coordinated security arrangements by the police have been strengthened so that people can return home safely.
Even traffic pressure was not seen on Dhaka-Tangail highway. In some places, cars are moving slowly, but there is no usual traffic jam. The highway and traffic police expect Eid journey in the northern region will be hassle-free along this highway.
Since all the district routes from Bangabandhu Setu West Link Highway are normal, traffic jam and passengers’ suffering are very low this time. For two days, traffic pressure on the highway has been increasing, but the car speed has been normal so far.
Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on June 17 (Monday). According to the official holiday list, the Eid-ul-Azha holiday will start from the day before Eid (June 16). The holiday will continue till June 18.
