As the seven-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday draws to a close, working professionals have started returning to the capital. However, unlike previous years, the return journey has remained largely smooth, with moderate passenger volumes and minimal travel disruptions. Passengers arriving by river routes reported comfortable and hassle-free trips back to Dhaka.
After visiting to the Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Sunday, it was found that a steady flow of arrivals but no signs of excessive congestion. Between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm, around 40 launches from various parts of the country docked at the terminal, bringing thousands of holidaymakers back to the capital. Passengers disembarked and continued to their destinations without significant delays or difficulties.
Many travelers expressed satisfaction with the smooth return journey, citing the absence of overcrowding and the lack of complaints over fare overcharging. Officials said most of those returning on Sunday were employees preparing to resume work on Monday, when offices and businesses are set to reopen after the extended holiday.
The MV Sonar Tori-4, operating on the Dhaka–Chandpur route, arrived at Sadarghat around 11:00 am. Passenger Sajeda Akter, who spent the holiday with her family in her village, said she chose to return a day early to avoid the expected rush.
“I had a wonderful Eid with my family. Since my office reopens tomorrow, I decided to return today,” she said.
Another passenger, Ashraf Abir, said this year’s Eid travel experience was significantly more comfortable than in previous years.
“I traveled to my village with my family to celebrate Eid. The journey was smooth, no extra fare was charged, and the usual travel hassles were largely absent,” he said.
Salma Jahan, who returned to Dhaka from Matlab in Chandpur with her four-year-old daughter, also described the trip as pleasant.
“There was no major crowd on the launch, and we reached Dhaka without any trouble. We had a very enjoyable Eid,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nuruzzaman Sumon, a boarding serang of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, said passenger pressure is expected to increase on Monday as the holiday period officially ends.
“Compared to previous years, passenger volume remains relatively low on Sunday. Around 40 launches arrived at Sadarghat between morning and noon, and more vessels are expected to arrive by 10:00 pm,” he said.
