Hundreds of thousands of people are returning to their hometowns ahead of Eid, driven by the desire to celebrate the festival with their families and relatives. As a result, many passengers are facing severe transport shortages and are being forced to pay significantly higher fares than usual.
Amid the ongoing situation, reports indicate that numerous passengers are compelled to travel in trucks, motorbikes, and even on train rooftops due to the lack of affordable transport options.
Along the Dhaka–Tangail Highway, particularly, bus fares have surged sharply, leaving many unable to afford tickets. Consequently, some passengers have resorted to travelling on goods-laden trucks and pickup vans.
The situation was observed on Thursday from morning to midday along the Dhaka–Jamuna Bridge west highway near Sirajganj, including Kodda, Nolka, Jhaul overbridge and the Hatikumrul Chattar, key transit points on the northern corridor near the Jamuna Bridge.
Passengers were seen sitting and standing in tightly packed conditions on pickup vans and cargo trucks, undertaking hazardous journeys to reach their destinations. Many held onto each other to avoid falling during the trip. Such unsafe travel practices are commonly witnessed each year during Eid, when low-income workers leave the capital and other major cities to return to their villages. Despite the risks, the urgency to reach home for Eid often outweighs concerns for personal safety.
Passengers said that many were unable to secure bus tickets even after long waits, while others were confronted with fares two to three times higher than normal. As a result, they felt compelled to travel on trucks and pickups despite the dangers. Several noted that missing Eid with their families would be more distressing than the risks of the journey.
Saiful Alam, traveling from Tangail to Bogura for the Eid holidays, said he waited about an hour at the Rabna Bypass on the Dhaka–Tangail Highway but could not board any bus. He eventually boarded an open truck despite the risk.
“Normally I travel to Bogura by bus for Tk 350 to Tk400. But during Eid, the open truck charged Tk500. I couldn’t get on any passenger bus. They were asking Tk800. For poor people like us, traveling home during Eid becomes very expensive,” he said.
Rasheda Begum, a garment worker traveling from Dhaka to Bogura, said bus fares have risen sharply from around Tk 500 to Tk 800. She said that despite paying higher fares, she was unable to secure a ticket. “My children are waiting for me. Finally, I had to pay Tk 300 to board a truck. I am going to meet my children for Eid despite the risks,” she said.
Mason Momin Mia shared similar frustration, saying he chose to travel despite fear. “If I don’t go home, how will I see my mother’s face? That’s why I am taking this risk,” he said, adding that emotional pressure outweighs safety concerns during the Eid rush.
Truck drivers also described growing pressure to carry stranded passengers. Sukkur Ali, a cement-laden truck driver heading towards Natore, said they are often persuaded by passengers. “We know this is not right, but people request us so much that we cannot refuse. Some offer extra money, and sometimes you cannot say no when you see their tears,” he said, adding that the risk of accidents remains constant.
Seeking anonymity, a pickup driver said passengers often gather along highways ahead of Eid. He noted that while some bus operators charge excessive fares, many travelers are left with no choice but to take unsafe transport. He also said drivers often try to avoid police enforcement while carrying passengers illegally.
Student Naim Sheikh, traveling towards Nagarbari, said the situation reflects a lack of safe and affordable transport options. “This risky journey driven by the pull of loved ones makes us ask when it will end,” he said.
Local businessman Liakat Hossain from the Koddar Mor area warned that truck travel is extremely dangerous due to overloading and poor safety conditions. He said enforcement of transport regulations weakens during the Eid period, while shortages and high fares push low-income workers into risky travel.
Mamon Biswas, chairman of The Bird Safety House and a social worker, described the situation as both emotional and systemic, saying it reflects deeper failures in ensuring safe transport for working people returning home for the holiday.
