Bangladesh Railway witnessed a record surge in demand for Eid-ul-Fitr train tickets, with the server experiencing a whopping 2.2 crore hits within the first hour of sales on Friday, setting a new record for the highest traffic in railway history.

On Friday, advance tickets for 8 April were sold. As the sale of tickets for the West zone commenced at 8am on the day, the server witnessed a surge in activity. Advance ticket sales for 8 April for the East zone started at 2pm on the day.

Despite the overwhelming demand, the allocation of tickets for the West zone stood at 16,000, leaving many prospective travellers disappointed. With an astonishing 2.2 crore hits on the railway server within the first hour alone, the competition for tickets was fierce, with an average of 1,400 attempts made for each ticket.

Railway officials disclosed that 14,000 tickets were successfully sold within the first hour, underscoring the immense demand, especially for 8 April. By Friday afternoon, most tickets had been sold out, leading to a substantial number of individuals being unable to secure tickets.

Expressing their grievances, many disappointed individuals flocked to Kamalapur railway station to lodge complaints, alleging irregularities in ticket distribution favouring black marketers.

Moreover, concerns were raised regarding delays in receiving OTP (one-time password) during online bookings, hindering the ticketing process for some.

Responding to these allegations, Kamalapur Station Manager Masud Sarwar refuted claims of misconduct, asserting the railway's commitment to facilitating a smooth Eid journey.

“We are trying to make the Eid journey smooth. It is a reality that not everyone will get tickets because the tickets are very less than the demand of the people. Those who didn't get tickets online also have a chance to go. Some 25% of the total tickets will be available for standing passengers on the day of travel. Along with that, 25 pairs of local, mail and commuter trains will run.”

Meanwhile, advance intercity train tickets for 9 April will be sold today. Besides, tickets will be sold for 10, 11 and 12 April depending on Eid moon sighting.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised regarding the increased fare for advance bus tickets ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, with travellers expressing dissatisfaction over the heightened costs.