People in frenzy to reach home

People streamed out of the capital on Thursday to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones living in outlying districts on overloaded buses, trains and launches.
The journeys were plagued by exorbitant fares, disruption in schedules, traffic congestion, mismanagement, accidents on highways, unfit launches and goods laden trucks violating bans, for the passengers.
As Thursday was the last working day before the three-day vacation starts from Friday, many people started to leave Dhaka from the morning.
The capital’s Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Saidabad terminals witnessed a huge number of passengers while many left Dhaka riding on bus roofs.
Most of the transportation operators’ countermen at Gabtoli terminal were charging an extra Tk 100 to Tk 200 for tickets on different routes, including Dhaka to Kushtia, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Gaibandha and Naogaon.
Mahbubul Alam, a Kushtia-bound passenger, said he had to pay Tk 550 for a ticket to travel to Kushtia.
According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, the price of a ticket on that route is about Tk 360, including toll.
Similar scenes were visible at Mohakhali and Saidabad terminals while home-goers alleged every year the authorities failed to check the problem.
At Kamalapur Railway Station, hundreds of people rushed on to different trains all around the day, while still many others loitered around for a chance to board trains.
The railway authorities sell standing tickets before any train leaves the station.
Many people ride on the roof of trains boarding it from the capital’s Airport Railway Station as the authorities stood by.
Some trains that left Dhaka on Thursday were late by an hour to three hours, including Rangpur Express, Kishoreganj Express and Sundarban Express on the Dhaka-Khulna route.
Five additional trains were running from three days before Eid, which will continue seven days after the Eid on the Dhaka-Dewanganj, Chittagong-Chandpur, Dhaka-Parbatipur and Dhaka-Khulna routes.
Two additional trains will run on Eid day on Bhairab-Kishoreganj and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj routes.
Sadarghat launch terminal saw hundreds of passengers throughout the day while the rush of people became more intense by night.
On Thursday about 120 launches, instead of the regular 64, were scheduled to take off from Sadargaht, said BIWTA joint director Jainal Abedin.
New Age Gazipur correspondent reported that since Thursday noon, a 20-kilometre tailback from Tongi to Gazipur intersection caused enormous sufferings to passengers.
Apparel workers were seen riding on trucks and pick-up vans violating a police ban, while on Thursday morning, goods-laden trucks were also seen on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
New Age Bogra correspondent reported that vehicular movement on Bogra-Natore highway was disrupted for about one and half hour following after a truck overturned at Kalikapur Sarakpara area Thursday morning.
Transport workers alleged the highway had been repaired a few days earlier but due to low quality work, the highway lost shape again after heavy rain.
Later, road transport division employees repaired the highway.
Our Barisal correspondent reported the authorities on Thursday withdrew Gournadi police station officer-in-charge Sajjad Hossain due to negligence of duty following an accident.
Md. Humayun Kabir, deputy inspector general of police of Barisal Range, said a BRTC bus had an accident near Torki on Barisal-Dhaka highway at about 11:30am, blocking the road as a result and a subsequent traffic jam.
‘After visiting the spot we failed to find any police there to ease sufferings of the commuters and so Sajjad was punished from the post,’ he added.
BIWTA held an unfit launch on Dhaka-Bhola route in the Dhaleshwary River at Mirkadim area Thursday afternoon, reported our Munshiganj correspondent.
With more than 500 passengers the MV Patarhat-5 left Dhaka but its floor got cracked after colliding with another launch.
BIWTA joint director Golam Mostafa said being informed by the passengers they seized the launch.
Two ro ro ferries were stuck on Shimulia-Kaorakandi water route with about 50 vehicles and 500 passengers at 2:00pm on Thursday due to narrowing of the channel.
BIWTC Shimulia office manager Abdul Alim said a launch reached Shimulia ghat at 4:00pm.
New Age Chittagong correspondent reported that people rushed to rail, bus and water station since early morning in frenzy.

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