POST-EID TRAVEL RUSH People continue to return to Dhaka

People continued to head back to Dhaka on Tuesday after celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with their families while some of the return journeys were marred by severe disruptions in ferry services on the major river routes. 
The major highways were almost congestion-free throughout the day and Bangladesh Railway’s train services also ran smoothly. 
New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported that only four out of 21 ferries were in operation on the Shimulia-Kathalbari river route across the River Padma due to navigability crisis and strong current. Three more ferries were in operation on the route on Monday. 
Besides, two ferries ran aground on the shoal of the Padma at Faridpur and Raipura.
More than 300 goods-laden trucks, bus and cars remained stuck in long queues, for almost the whole day, at Shimulia pontoon in Munshiganj, for reaching Kanthalbari in Madaripur, causing immense sufferings to the passengers and transport workers.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority engineer Ajgor Ali said that they had been dredging the river bed with three dredgers. 
New Age correspondent in Manikganj reported that over 400 Dhaka-bound buses, microbuses and private cars remained stuck in a four-kilometre long queue in the morning at Daulatdia ferry terminal under Goalanda in Rajbari.
Mohammad Ashfaq, a Dhaka-bound passenger, said that he had reached Daulatdia pontoon at 1:00am and stayed overnight on the bus due to non-availability of a ferry. They could cross the river at 8:20am, but the passengers suffered badly due to the lack of food and toilet facilities there. 
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation commercial manager at Daulatdia office Md Shafiqul Islam said that the ferries had been taking long to cross the river due to strong current.
Out of 18 ferries on the route, 17 were in operation, he said.
A huge number of Dhaka-bound passengers reached at the capital’s Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Saidabad terminals on the day. 
Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association chairman Md Faruk Talukder Sohel said that most of the highways in the country’s northern districts had been free from congestion. 
People would continue to come back to Dhaka till Saturday, he added. 
Kamalapur rail station master Nipendra Nath Saha told New Age that the number of Dhaka-bound passengers on the day was higher than usual. He expected that the pressure of city-bound people would continue to be seen till Saturday. 
The capital-bound rush from the country’s southern districts was also seen at the Sadarghat launch terminal. 
In Dhaka, most of the shops, shopping malls and kitchen markets were yet to open while most of the busy roads were almost empty throughout the day

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net