Millions of people are likely to face immense suffering on the roads, waterways, and railways during their homebound journeys for the Eid holidays.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the majority of people of Bangladesh, always coincides with hordes of people leaving Dhaka. However, Experts fear the traffic congestion will be worse this year than during Eid in the previous two years, as Covid-related movement restrictions are no longer in force.
According to a recent study conducted by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), about three million travellers will leave Dhaka in each of the four days until Eid, but only 1.6 million have secured transports for the trip, so far.
When asked how the remaining people would travel, Buet Accident Research Institute (ARI) director Prof Md Hadiuzzaman told Dhaka Tribune: “Many people will leave Dhaka on goods-laden vehicles, the decks of launches, roofs of trains, or two-wheelers and three-wheelers. A large portion will try to reach their destination by using multiple small vehicles. Some of the unsafe means of travel may lead to an increase in road accidents.”
In addition to increased road traffic, a rush at ferry terminals and construction work at key points of roads and highways are likely to amplify the suffering of commuters. Charging of extra fares on public transports and a lack of monitoring to prevent the practice is also a major issue.
Pressure points
The Dhaka–Tangail, Dhaka–Mymensingh, Dhaka–Rangpur, Dhaka–Sylhet highways, and the Paturia–Daulatdia and Aricha–Kazirhat waterways are expected to be the most painful pressure points, based on previous experience.
Recently, the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh at a press conference pointed out a number of exit points of Dhaka which would be risky due to traffic congestion.
They are Jatrabari, Saidabad, Babubazar Bridge, Postogola, Tongi rail station, Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Flyover, Mirer Bazar, Ulukhola, Kanchan Bridge, Gabtoli Mazar Road, Mirer Dhour, Ashulia, EPZ area, Chandra, Rayer Bazar Shaheed Buddhijibi Bridge, Jinjira, Keraniganj, Hatirjheel, Mohakhali, Rampura, Shekher Jaiga, Amulia, Demra, Sultana Kamal Bridge, Chittagong Road, Kanchpur, Modonpur, Meghna Toll Plaza, Bhulta, Gausia, Borfa and the stretch from Uttara to Gazipur.
Speakers at the press conference urged the authorities to ensure strict monitoring to prevent extortion on roads and charging of extra fares on all modes of transports.
The authorities said they are trying to increase the capacity of ferry ghats and the number of ferries to face the Eid traffic increase.
BIWTC Director (Control) SM Ashikuzzaman told Dhaka Tribune on Saturday they had six ferries in the dockyard for repairs, and four among them will be ready for the Eid journeys.
“BIWTC will operate 49 out of 51 ferries on six routes during this Eid,” he added.
The capacity of ferry terminals is also being enhanced at the Munshiganj end, according to BIWTA Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq.
“A new ferry ghat will be installed by April 28 on the Shariatpur-Majhikandhi route, to serve the homebound people during this Eid. Ferries will be operated 24 hours a day to make holidaymakers journeys smooth,” he said.
How to ease the traffic?
Experts fear that a lack of balance between road, waterway, and railway travel will increase suffering for commuters.
“Right now, roads are carrying 65% of passengers, waterways are carrying 20%, and railways only 15%,” said Prof Hadiuzzaman.
“In India, They have a 70,000km rail network capacity and 700,000km road network capacity, but still India is carrying most passengers and goods via rail. If we want to improve the quality of journeys, we have to improve the rail network in Bangladesh. Four-lane or six-lane roads will not work during crisis periods like the Eid journey time,” added the ARI director.
He also suggested increasing the length of the holidays so that people had more time to travel.
What homebound people are saying?
Moumi Khondoker a banker, said she is planning to leave Dhaka during this Eid vacation even though she is aware that the traffic is likely to be horrendous.
“Traffic jam or hazard on the road is very minor to compared to the happiness of spending festival time, especially Eid, with family members.”
Several others also said they were willing to brave the Eid traffic to spend the holidays at home. Many people were seen waiting at Kamalapur railway station from midnight to buy train tickets.
