On the first holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr, the capital's main river port, Sadarghat, is full of Eid holidaymakers since dawn.
Thousands of passengers heading the southern region have left Dhaka in about 50 small and big launches since morning. However, the pressure of passenger decreased in the afternoon in the hot weather.
People started coming to the terminal again from afternoon and Sadarghat returned to its old form.
The people of the southern region are returning home with relief from the Sadarghat launch terminal on the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. As the passenger pressure at the ghat is low, the homebound people are going home very comfortably to share the joy of Eid.
Since the morning of the first day of the public holiday of Eid, many people left Dhaka by boat from Sadarghat.
Launches leaving for Chandpur, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Jhalkathi were seen from Wednesday morning till evening. The staff of the launch is trying to get the passengers' attention through miking and honking. Barisal launches waiting to leave at night.
Launches are leaving early with passengers to short distance districts. Those who got leave in the last moment are basically leaving Dhaka now. Due to passenger pressure, the fares on most routes have been increased, but not more than the government fixed fare. No complaints were heard from the passengers about the fare.
MV Karnaphuli launch staff Ismail Hossain said: “The number of passengers is as expected. The launch will leave in the afternoon, before which most of the cabins are booked. Now deck passengers are coming and selling tickets. The launch will fill up before the departure time.”
Shafiqul Islam, staff of MV Asa Jawa 2 of Chandpur route, said: “Sadarghat seems to have returned to its previous state. With lots of passengers, the launch is leaving with passengers ahead of schedule. As soon as the launch comes, it is filling up. Passengers are increasing especially at night.”
Chandpur bound passenger with Md Ali Noor said: “The holiday started today (Wednesday). I am going home to celebrate Eid with my family. I got the ticket. I didn't suffer to get tickets; fares are higher than usual but under control.”
Barisal-bound passenger Alif Mahmud said: “I have come from Savar, I will go to Barisal. I'm coming a little earlier. I had already booked the cabin so there was no delay in getting the ticket.”
Shahidul Islam, secretary general of the Launch Owners Association, said: “There are naturally more passengers before Eid. However, passengers on the Barisal route are a little less. Still we have sufficient number of launches ready for all routes. Special launches will be launched according to passenger demand. Cabin booking and deck tickets for these launches can be taken at the ghat.”
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Sadarghat Maritime Safety and Traffic Management Department Joint Director Md Kabir Hossain said: “Passenger pressure will increase during Eid. We had to make all preparations keeping that in mind.”
“We have a monitoring team at the ghat to ensure that no one takes extra passengers. There is no chance of fare increase this time. But we will take action if we get complaints,” he added.
Meanwhile, naval police are seen patrolling the ghat to ensure the safety of passengers during the Eid journey. Sadarghat naval police Officer-in-Charge Shafiqur Rahman Khan said: “We are patrolling regularly. We are taking care that no untoward incident takes place. We are ready to provide maximum security to passengers.”
