Purchasing advance tickets for journeys to the southern and northern parts of the country ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr is a phenomenal task for thousands of homebound passengers. Frustrated, some decide not return home for celebrating Eid with their loved ones, while others choose to depart for their Eid destinations before the vacation.
At the Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Wednesday, many passengers were seen rushing from one place to another for tickets. The same rush was seen at bus counters in Shamoly, Kallyanpur, Saydabad and Gabtoli. Most of the passengers' efforts went in vain. According to reports from different bus and launch terminals, advanced tickets for regular and special buses along with launch services have already been sold out. However, many passengers claimed that the tickets sold out within hours of hitting the booths, and they could not obtain them even after trying for several days. As many of the passengers failed to collect advance tickets, they are now leaving the capital much earlier. Those who cannot leave the city earlier are sending their family members to their village homes. Mahadi-ul-Morshed, a resident of Luxmibazar area said, "I failed to collect advance tickets. So, taking leave from my office, I have decided to go to my village home much earlier on Thursday with my family." Ticket sellers at the counters of Shohagh Paribahan, Shamoly Paribahan, Hanif Enterprise, SR Travels, TR Travels, Agomony Enterprise and Sakura Paribahan of Saydabad and Gabtoli Terminals said most of the advance tickets were sold out between July 26 to July 28. Tickets Managers of Parabat 11, Sundorban 7, Rajdut, Agradut Plus, Kirtonkhola said, the advanced cabin tickets were sold between July 25 and July 26. Although bus and launch ticket vendors said the advanced tickets had been sold out, employees of different transport firms said, If any passenger has personal contract with the bus or launch staff, they get their tickets from them. Apart from that, special launch and bus services are going to be introduced from August 5 and 6 respectively. Talking to our correspondent, Sayed Anower, an employee of Shohag Paribahan, said the number of tickets is much less compared to the number of passengers. Dilip Babu, ticket manager of Kirtonkhola launch said, unavailability of tickets had been a common problem during Eid. It is the responsibility of passengers to collect advanced tickets earlier, he added. However, sources of bus and launch terminal said that only 30 percent launch cabin and 60 percent bus tickets had been sold out for general public through regular channels and the others were sold out under different requests of VIPs or to people associated to bus employees'. Dr Jalal Ahmed, one of the passengers at Sayedabad bus terminal, said he had been trying to purchase a ticket for the past three days, but failed to do so. "It is impossible to go home without a ticket," said Aysha Akter Tonni, one of the frustrated passengers. Jobayed Ahmed, a resident of Mohakhali area, said, "As I failed to collect advanced tickets, I think it is better not to go home. I will take a holiday from my office after Eid to go home, as it is easier to travel to home then without facing any hassles."