With Eid ul Fitr coming up in a few days, there has been no extra pressure on the ticket counters at the bus terminals in the capital.
Customers have been buying tickets according to an allotted due date. Besides, many who have been returning to their hometowns are sending their family members out of Dhaka in advance to avoid traffic jams ahead of Eid.
A visit to the capital’s Gabtoli bus terminal on Saturday revealed that personnel at the counters were waiting for passengers to purchase tickets. The ones who visited the terminal booked tickets for certain locations under a specific date and time.
A passenger named Shariful said that in order to avoid the traffic he would be sending his family to their hometown in advance instead of just before Eid.
Sumaiya said there would be more crowds right before Eid, but now that the roads might be a little empty it was better to leave soon. “The bus fare may be increased later, it will take more time to travel on the roads too,” she added.
Passenger Rakibul said he wanted to buy tickets for April 30 and had got the tickets to return home on that date. He hopes to return safely.
People at the counter said that the demand for booking tickets under the dates April 28, 29 and 30 had been higher than other dates. There are still tickets available for the three dates. The ones who are purchasing now are getting the tickets in advance.
“No extra charges are being taken. Tickets are being sold at rates according to the charts and advance tickets have increased in sales since April 15,” they added.