As post-Eid-ul-Azha return trips continued on Friday, Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital city of Dhaka remained overcrowded with passengers arriving from different parts of the country.
In light of Covid-19 precautions, amid a fresh surge, authorities began making public announcements via loudspeakers at the station around 10:45am, but no one appeared to be following the mask mandate, reports Bangla Tribune.
The government holiday ends on Saturday, leading to increased travel pressure beginning on Friday.
Earlier, after Eid-ul-Azha, the Ministry of Railways urged passengers to wear masks and adhere to health guidelines during return train journeys.
Due to a recent rise in Covid-19 cases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare advised citizens to wear masks in crowded areas.
As a result, the Ministry of Railways requested all passengers to wear masks and follow health protocols during post-Eid train travel.
Meanwhile, passengers with standing tickets were packed into the general non-AC coaches, making their way back to Dhaka in overcrowded conditions without complying with health guidelines.
Safayet, a passenger on the Egarosindur train from Kishoreganj, said he had to stand for the entire journey.
Despite the crowded conditions, he was not wearing a mask, claiming he was unaware of any Covid-19 alert.
Another passenger, Raihan, who arrived from Saidpur, said he did not know anything about the mask requirement.
Moreover, most railway officials and security personnel, including the ticket checkers, were also seen without masks.
Station Master Mohammad Anwar Hossain said that as of 11am, 23 trains had departed from Dhaka and 14 had arrived.
There were no major schedule disruptions, except for the Rangpur Express, which left an hour late, he said.
Announcements are being made via loudspeakers, urging passengers to wear masks and follow health guidelines, and further measures are being taken, he added.
