As Eid-ul-Fitr holidays come to an end, passengers from various parts of the country are returning to Dhaka via waterways to rejoin work, resulting in increased pressure at the capital's main river terminal, Sadarghat.
On Saturday, a visit to the Sadarghat terminal and pontoon area showed launches arriving one after another, reports Bangla Tribune.
Most of these launches, arriving from different routes, were filled to capacity with passengers. As a result, the terminal was noticeably crowded.
After disembarking, many passengers had to walk a long distance before finding transportation.
Traffic congestion was also observed on the road from Sadarghat to Gulistan.
Launch authorities said that while there hadn't been much pressure from returning passengers over the past few days, Saturday saw a significant rise.
Osman, a staff member of the Sundarban-10 launch, said: “Launches no longer get as overcrowded as they used to. But today, compared to the past few days, there’s definitely more of a crowd. All the passengers are returning. Still, we have to depart empty.”
Mobarok Hossain, joint director of the Dhaka River Port under Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said: “Since early morning today, there has been a high volume of returnees. So far, no untoward incidents have occurred. We are working to ensure safe and comfortable travel for the passengers.”
