Over three thousand motorbikes have been spotted in the Shimulia Ghat area since Saturday morning as thousands of people have been leaving the capital city of Dhaka for their village homes ahead of Eid.
More than a thousand motorcycles crossed Padma River and due to overcrowding, a dock was designated for motorcycle crossings only.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Shimulia Ghat Manager (Commerce) Md Faisal said that due to the large number of motorcycles, they were taken across by a special ferry.
On the other hand, although motorcycle app-based ride sharing is used in the capital, there are fewer riders available for Eid at present.
Kamrul, who was waiting for a motorcycle at the Kawran Bazar intersection, said he had not been able to get a bike for a long time despite a request on the app.
A rider named Farooq, who uses the ride sharing app, said that many riders were going home this Eid.
"Even if you take a passenger for half the bus fare, the cost of fuel will go up. And even if you (rider) go for regular fare, you are getting some extra income. On the contrary, if you stay in Dhaka for these few days of Eid, your income will be less," he said.
Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samiti (BJKS) predicted that 2 to 2.5 million motorcycles would run on the national highways during the Eid journey.
These motorcycles will make 4 to 4.5 million trips in different districts of the country, according to BJKS.
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary general of BJKS, said: "Due to the public transport crisis this Eid, 1.2 million passengers may travel on motorcycles from the capital to various destinations across the country. Accidents often occur when these motorcycle riders, failing to keep the balance with their wives,children and luggage on the two-wheelers, drive recklessly and collide with buses and cars."
This Eid, almost three times more passengers may travel using motorcycles than at any other time in the past, which also increases three-fold the risk of accidents, he said.
Motorcycle pressure is highest in North Bengal. Due to the high pressure of motorcycles on the Jamuna bridge, there has been a lot of traffic jams for a long time. To reduce the pressure, two separate lanes for motorcycles have been provided for the toll of the bridge.
Mizan, who was traveling from Dhaka to Rajshahi, said that many of his acquaintances had left on motorcycles due to fear of traffic jams.
On the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, everyone is rushing to their destinations to share the festivities with their families. Along with buses, launches and trains, motorcycle rides have been added extensively this time. Such images are found on highways and ferries. It is especially in North Bengal that the use of motorcycles is clearly more during Eid.
Traffic congestion has increased on the highways since Friday. However, motorcycle pressure was observed in the areas adjacent to Shimulia and Paturia ferries and the Jamuna bridge.
