Eid travel disrupted by rain, gridlock, fare hikes

With Eid-ul-Azha just days away, the capital is gradually emptying out as thousands head home to celebrate with their families. However, the exodus has been severely disrupted by heavy rain, persistent traffic gridlock, and transport shortages.

Compounding the misery, poor planning and delays in executing various road expansion projects have triggered widespread suffering across key transit routes, including the Dhaka-Sylhet, Bhanga-Barishal, Dhaka-Tangail, and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways.

As the seven-day Eid holiday commenced on Monday morning, homebound passengers descended upon bus terminals, railway stations, and launch ghats. 

The situation worsened dramatically around 11:30am when heavy downpours and strong winds snapped a prolonged heatwave. 

The deluge left several city roads waterlogged, severely slowing traffic and leaving commuters stranded for hours in long queues.

While congestion remained manageable at Gabtoli due to early departures, major pressure points like Sayedabad, Abdullahpur, Mohakhali, Kamalapur, and Sadarghat witnessed overwhelming crowds. Passengers alleged widespread schedule disruptions and exorbitant fare hikes.

Abdur Rahim, a traveler heading to Patuakhali, alleged he was charged Tk1,000 for a ticket that normally costs Tk600. 

Similar complaints surfaced from passengers on Cumilla, Khulna, Barguna, and Noakhali routes. Transport workers, however, denied overcharging. 

A staff member of Doshmina Paribahan explained, “The government-fixed fare is Tk930, but our buses travel further into the interior, which brings the fare to Tk1,000. No extra charge is being taken.” 

The pricing dispute follows a recent Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) report stating that around Tk1,480 crore was pocketed in extra fares during Eid-ul-Fitr earlier this year.

At Kamalapur Railway Station, train delays further tested passenger patience. 

The Dhumketu Express departed 30 minutes late, while the Nilshagar and Rangpur Express services ran over an hour behind schedule. 

Inspecting the station, Road Transport, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that 51 additional coaches had been deployed to manage the rush, adding that authorities are trying to reduce suffering despite “limited infrastructure and locomotives.” 

Kamalapur station Manager Md Kabir Uddin maintained that the overall situation remained normal, noting that some delays occurred due to operational reasons, including trains slowing down where locals dry straw on the tracks.

Waterways also saw an influx of travellers, with Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) readying 172 launches at Sadarghat – up from the usual 55. 

Special services were also introduced from Basila and Shimulia. BIWTA official Md Mobarak Hossain confirmed that coordinated security involving RAB, Coast Guard, and DMP is in place from 21 May to 2 June.

To ease highway pressure, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has banned trucks, covered vans, and lorries from 25 May to 31 May, exempting emergency supplies and cattle transport. 

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has identified 113 congestion hotspots across eight major highways, marking the Dhaka-Sylhet route as the most vulnerable. 

DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed confirmed that special mobile teams have been deployed to curb passenger harassment alongside coordinated security spanning cattle markets, terminals, and financial hubs.