Long Puja break empties Dhaka, crowds terminals

Dhaka has taken on a noticeably quieter look as thousands of residents have left the capital for their ancestral homes and tourist destinations during the five-day Durga Puja holiday.

However, bus terminals, railway stations and launch terminals were crowded with holidaymakers on Tuesday, with the rush intensifying from Monday.

The government’s decision to declare 22 October a holiday, alongside the scheduled Durga Puja and weekly holidays, has created an uninterrupted five-day break, encouraging people to plan longer trips.

The capital’s normally busy areas, including Paltan, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, Motijheel, Moghbazar, Jatrabari, Rampura and Uttara, experienced lighter traffic than usual.

“In our busy city lives, we rarely get enough time to spend with parents and extended family. This five-day break is a rare blessing for us,” said Tasnima Ferdous Juti, a college teacher who visited her sister in South Banasree from Dhanmondi.

She said they planned to leave Dhaka on Wednesday morning.

DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman said traffic had eased considerably as many people had left the capital and schools were closed.

He said authorities were considering measures such as introducing dedicated school buses, reducing private car use and relocating terminals outside the capital to improve traffic management.

A visit to Sayedabad and Gabtoli bus terminals and Kamalapur railway station found thousands of passengers heading to their hometowns and popular tourist destinations, carrying luggage and travelling with family members.

Ehsan-e-Elahi Khokon, a Dhaka University student travelling to his village home in Sylhet, said his journey from campus to Sayedabad had been more comfortable than usual, although the terminal was crowded.

Another student travelling to Cox’s Bazar said the city journey was comfortable but described the bus terminal as crowded.

Similar scenes were reported at Sadarghat Launch Terminal, where many Dhaka residents were returning to their villages to spend the holidays with their families.

Passengers also complained of higher fares on some routes. Travellers at Sayedabad said fares for local buses to Barishal had risen from around Tk500 to Tk600–700. On the Cumilla route, some said fares had increased from Tk200–250 to Tk300.

Meanwhile, popular tourist destinations, including Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata and the hill districts, were preparing for an influx of visitors. The holiday is expected to benefit hotels, restaurants, transport operators and other tourism-related businesses.

Authorities and tourism operators in Cox’s Bazar have stepped up preparations to manage crowds and ensure visitors’ safety.

In Bandarban and the other hill districts, local tourism-sector sources said around 60% of hotel, motel, resort and guesthouse bookings had been completed ahead of the holiday.

The Kuakata Residential Hotel Owners Association said 70–80% of rooms in first- and second-category hotels, motels and resorts had been booked in advance.

However, poor road conditions are affecting access to some destinations.

Tourism operators in Sylhet expressed disappointment over visitor numbers, citing poor road connections to attractions and the high cost and limited availability of air and rail tickets.

Similar concerns persist in Cumilla, where the road to the Kotbari–Shalban Bihar area, a major tourist attraction, has reportedly remained in poor condition.