Around 50,000 people left Dhaka for their hometowns or villages via the Sadarghat launch terminal on Wednesday to celebrate the Eid holidays with their near and dear ones, according to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
The crowd grew larger and larger as the day progressed, and launches bound for Bhola, Hatia, Chandpur, Barguna and Patuakhali were leaving the terminal overflowing with passengers.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers was comparatively lower on the Dhaka-Barisal route.
“Lots of passengers today. The launches are filling up ahead of time. Once the garment factories are closed, there will be no place left to stand at the terminal,” Ashikur Rahman, supervisor of MV Awlad, said.
Launch Owners Association Secretary General said the number of launches would be increased if the number of passengers increased.
BIWTA official Kabir Hossain said the pressure was huge as most offices closed for Eid on Tuesday.