People flock out of capital

A huge number of people left Dhaka city on Sunday, suffering on their way for severe disruption in ferry services and belated trains, with Eid-ul-Azha only two days away.
As in the last few days, a large number of vehicles were seen stranded on both sides of Shimulia-Kathalbari, Barisal-Dhaka and Paturia-Daulatdia water routes.
Many trains left Kamalapur rail station in the capital behind the schedule.
New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reports that 16 ferries were in operation on Shimulia-Kathalbari route on the day, carrying half of the number of vehicles they used to carry for navigability problem. 
In the afternoon, more than 200 vehicles, mostly passenger and goods-laden vehicles, were seen in Shimulia pontoon area as since morning the ferries carried only small vehicles. 
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation Shimulia terminal manager (commercial) Abdul Aleem said some ferries were not operating for navigability problem. 
New Age correspondent in Barisal reports that waterways service at Miyarchar point on Barisal-Dhaka route was disrupted by lack of navigability. 
The vessels are taking an additional one and a half hour to reach their destinations as they are using the alternative lengthy route. 
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority river security and traffic management department (Barisal) deputy director Azmal Huda Mithu said the launches were going to Dhaka via Kaliganj. 
New Age correspondent in Manikganj reports that ferry and launch services on Paturia-Daulatdia route became normal on Sunday as pressure of vehicles at Paturia in Manikganj and at Daulatdia in Rajbari was less compared with the last few days. 
Less than one hundred vehicles were seen lined up at Paturia terminal around 5:30pm while about 150 vehicles were seen at Daulatdia terminal around 6:00pm, said BIWTC officials from
Paturia and Daulatdia offices.
Kamalapur railway station manager Sitangshu Chakraborty told New Age that Sunday morning the highest number of passengers turned up at the station to leave the capital. 
All trains were overcrowded while almost all trains on northern routes and a few on Khulna route were behind the schedule, he said. 
Till 3:00pm, six out of 30 trains left Dhaka behind the schedule — Lalmoni Special was late by more than six hours, Nilsagar Express and Rangpur Express were late by around three hours, Sundarban Express by two hours and a half, Dhumketu Express by one hour and a half and Ekota Express by one hour. 
Many people went to the station in the hope that there might be some ticket left unsold. 
While visiting the station in the afternoon, inspector general of Bangladesh Police Mohammad Javed Patwary told journalists that the overall situation at the station was satisfactory in terms of security and schedule. 
‘Not only in Bangladesh but also in other countries in the subcontinent people travel on train roof. This is the reality,’ he said. 
Additional 2,300 police members were engaged in different train stations to make Eid journey smoother, he said. 
New Age correspondent in Comilla reports that scattered congestion was seen at some points on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in the afternoon. 
Vehicles were seen to stand in long queues towards Dhaka — from Madaiya to Daudkandi toll plaza and towards the port city — from Mainamati area under Comilla Cantonment to Paduyar Bazar on Bishwa road. 
New Age correspondent in Barisal reports that passengers were suffering immensely on Barisal-Dhaka national highway’s 23 kilometre stretch from Bhurghata area under Gouranadi upazila to Joyosree under Ujirpur upazila for bad condition of road. 
Roads and highways department (Barisal) executive engineer Khandaker Golam Mostafa said that the potholes developed after recent rainfalls. 
Eid travellers were also seen at Mohakhali, Gabtoli and Saidabad terminals.
During a visit to Sadarghat launch terminal, shipping minister Shajahan Khan urged the passengers not to get on overloaded launches and the operators not to charge extra fare.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net