This year’s Eid journey is different for the people of 21 districts of the country's southern and southeastern 21 districts, as this is the first time they are crossing the mighty Padma River through the newly-built Padma Bridge.
The people of Khulna, Bagerhat, Jessore, Satkhira, Narail, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Magura under the Khulna Division; Barisal, Pirojpur, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalokati under the Barisal division; and Gopalganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Rajbari under the Dhaka division are excited because this time they do not have any fear of crossing the river after waiting a long time for ferries or launches.
Imran Hossain, an officer at the University Grants Commission, told this correspondent on Thursday evening that he and his wife were much more excited to celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha, one of the largest celebrations for Muslims, at their hometown Jessore.
“Usually it takes 10 to 12 hours during the time of Eid to reach Jessore from Dhaka, but this year we are expecting to reach home within 4-5 hours, due to the Padma Bridge,” he said. Imran also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for opening the Padma Bridge before Eid.
Razib Ahamed, a sales and marketing trainer, wrote on his Facebook on Thursday that he reached Chuadanga from Dhaka through the Padma Bridge in only 4 hours and 20 minutes by driving his own car.
Bus operators are also facing the heat of the passenger’s excitement during the Eid trips.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday, Mosharrof Hossain, general manager of Hanif transport, said: “We are under huge pressure from the passengers as they are telling us to operate all buses through the Padma Bridge this time. But maximum passengers do not know that the buses that start from Gabtoli and Mohakhali terminals are not allowed to cross the Padma Bridge.
“Only the buses operating from the Sayedabad terminal can use the bridge. But we are facing pressure as maximum passengers want to go home via the Padma Bridge this time.”
Sakura transport is one of the oldest bus operators on the Barisal route, and is also feeling the heat from the passengers, according to Raihan Kabir John, the company’s executive director.
“We never imagined that we would have to face this type of passenger pressure this Eid. We are operating around 60 buses everyday from Dhaka to Barisal via the Padma Bridge, and all tickets were booked within five minutes,” Raihan said.
He mentioned that, this time, there was no passenger pressure on air and launch routes.
Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (passenger carriers) Association, said: “We are in a dire situation this time; we have never seen this type of crisis in any Eid season. We have lost almost 60% of launch passengers.”
He suggested that the authorities widen the roads towards Sadarghat launch terminal. “Otherwise, the future of launch services will be uncertain.”
