RETURN JOURNEY Mad rush on way to Dhaka

Thousands of city dwellers returned to Dhaka on Saturday following Eid holidays. Transport crisis and higher fares, however, reportedly failed the passengers as they turned back to the country’s most populous employment hub. 
New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported crisis of Dhaka-bound public transports on Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Mawa Highways.
Bhaberchar Highway Police outpost in-charge Hashem Munshi said passengers had to wait for several hours at Anarpura and Bhaberchar to get on Dhaka-bound buses.
Dhaka-Mawa Highway’s Hashara Highway Police outpost in-charge Golam Morshed Talukder said many passengers complained to them against the transport service providers for charging higher fares than usual. They also expressed their disappointment over the lack to transports. 
Ayesha Rahman, a passenger at Gazaria, said she had to wait for two hours to get a bus while transport vans were charging extra taking advantages of the situation. 
New Age correspondent in Tangail and Comilla reported that vehicular movement was smooth on the Dhaka-Tangail and the Dhaka-Chittagong highways. 
The capital’s inter-district bus terminals, Sadarghat Ferry Terminal and Kamalapur Railway Station were extremely crowded with passengers returning to Dhaka. 
Dhaka-bound trains were seen filled with passengers both inside and roofs. 
Rangpur Express on Dhaka-Rangpur route was late for second consecutive day on Saturday, said Kamalapur railway station master Nipendra Nath Saha. 
On Saturday the train was scheduled to leave Kamalapur station at 9:00am but till 7:00pm it did not leave. On Friday the train was six hours late. 
The ferries from the country’s southern districts were also seen to carry thousands of passengers to Dhaka since Saturday early hours. 
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority joint director (Sadarghat terminal in charge) Jainal Abedin said Dhaka-bound ferries mainly arrived between 2:00am and 6:00am on Saturday. 
People’s rush would continue today (Sunday), he added. 
Dhaka-bound people started arriving at their destinations since early morning through Gabtali, Mohakhali and Saidabad bus terminals, said transport operators.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net