Homebound people may enjoy smooth and hassle-free Eid journey this year thanks to development of the railway and roads and highways across the country.
Around 1.5 crore people are likely to leave the capital for home to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest festivals of the Muslims, with their near and dear ones.
Many are sending their families home much earlier before Eid to avoid rush of people departing the capital city of Dhaka.
People, who will travel on long-distance buses will not have to pay extra fare as adjustments have been made to the fluctuation in diesel prices, resulting in reduction in bus fare.
Seven flyovers under the BRT project on Gazipur-Airport section of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway have already opened to traffic. Homebound people may not experience tailback that occurred in Gazipur during the previous Eid holidays.
Moreover, Hatikamrul interchange has also been opened to facilitate smooth bus movement on the highway.
Many people have started leaving the capital availing train services for Eid,
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Additional Director Kamruzzaman told the Bangladesh Post that “Without any hassle people have started their Eid journey. This time as various options are made available. We hope homebound people will have a safe and smooth journey.”
BRTA inspector (motor vehicles) Md Alamgir Sheikh told this correspondent, “We are checking every vehicles so that a risk-free journey can be offered to the passengers.”
On Friday, while visiting Mohakhali bus terminal, it was seen that many people are sending their families to avoid road rush. Some
passengers said they are paying the bus fare as it was before. However, following the reduction in fare of diesel-run buses also seen adjusted with it.
At Ekota Express bus counter, a Bogra-bound passenger Zian Ahmed told this correspondent that he can buy tickets at slightly reduced price. “I don't have to pay any extra money.”
“As Eid is approaching nearer, I am leaving the city with my family members to avoid traffic snarl on highway. Bus ticket price remain almost the same as before.”
Almost every counters have hung the new chart of bus fare at the terminal also.
Buses to and from Mymensingh, Tangail, Netrakona, Sherpur, Brahmanbaria, Bogra, Sirajganj, Naoga, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, and Rangpur districts operate from Mohakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal.