Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum, people have begun leaving Dhaka to cast their votes in their respective constituencies.
Taking advantage of the five-day extended holiday, working professionals, students and voters from various walks of life started returning home from Monday night.
As a result, a massive rush of homebound passengers was observed at the capital’s bus terminals, railway stations and launch terminals.
The interim government relaxed the holiday schedule ahead of the February 12 polls, saying the move was intended to create a festive election atmosphere. Critics, however, argued that the decision was aimed at boosting voter turnout.
Some people had planned to use the extended holiday for leisure travel within the country but were unable to do so due to restrictions barring voters from staying outside their constituencies for 86 hours before and after polling day.
To maintain security during the election period, local administrations have ordered the temporary closure of hotels and motels in tourist-heavy areas. The directive will remain in effect from February 10 to 13.
Meanwhile, MP candidates across the country have arranged buses, trucks and other vehicles to transport voters to their home constituencies in an effort to secure votes.
On Monday night, several groups of construction workers were seen at Banglamotor intersection, gathered near the adjacent tile market, waiting for small trucks to take them to their village homes to vote.
When asked, the workers said they were low-income labourers and that a local MP candidate had arranged trucks to transport them to Jamalpur.
Reports also indicate that some candidates distributed free bus tickets to voters to ensure their presence on polling day.
On-the-ground observations showed heavy crowds at major transport hubs, including Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Saidabad bus terminals, Kamalapur Railway Station and Sadarghat Launch Terminal.
Many passengers were seen waiting for hours to secure bus, train or launch tickets. With bags and belongings in hand, the number of people waiting to depart continued to grow throughout the day.
Homebound passengers said they were willing to endure the hardship out of enthusiasm for voting and a sense of civic responsibility. Some described the journey as a “festival of voting,” combining civic duty with a long-awaited visit home.
Rafiqul Islam, a voter leaving Dhaka, said: “I’m leaving Dhaka just to cast my vote. Even though it’s difficult, I want to vote myself since I haven’t been able to do so for a long time. Voting is a festival. I also haven’t seen my family for a long time, so this trip gives me a chance to spend some time with them.”
At Kamalapur Railway Station, an overwhelming rush of passengers was observed, with some seen travelling on train rooftops due to excessive pressure.
Platforms and surrounding areas were overcrowded, and many passengers who failed to secure tickets or confirmed seats took risks to reach their destinations. Law enforcement personnel were deployed at the station to manage the situation.
Amid the rush, allegations of excessive fare collection also surfaced.
Passengers complained that some bus owners and workers were charging fares far above official rates. With limited transport options and time constraints, many said they were forced to pay the higher fares.
Enayet Hossain, travelling with his family to Rangpur from Gabtoli Bus Terminal, said: “I arrived in the morning and managed to get a ticket for the afternoon. I saw many passengers struggling to get tickets, and some counters were charging higher fares. The roads were jammed too—it took two hours to reach the terminal from the Export Processing Zone area.”
Rakib Hossain, a passenger at Mohakhali travelling to Natore, said: “TV says it will be safe to return home, but the roads are jammed and fares are higher. There is no order.”
At Baipail in Savar, passenger Mokhles alleged that fares had more than tripled. “Where the fare is usually Tk300, they are now asking for Tk1,000,” he said, adding that he was travelling to Jamalpur to vote.
However, Ahadul Islam, manager of SR Paribahan’s Kallyanpur counter, denied charging extra fares. “The regular fare to Bogura is Tk550, and we are charging exactly that. All tickets have already been sold out. Even after adding extra trips, we are struggling to cope with the passenger pressure,” he said.
Mehedi Hasan, a police officer on duty at Jatrabari, said passenger pressure had increased significantly due to the election. “We are working to control traffic and ensure safe travel. Although there is congestion in some areas, we are trying our best to keep the situation under control,” he said.
Savar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sheikh Shahjahan said no formal complaints regarding fare hikes had been received so far, adding that action would be taken if any were filed.
He noted that traffic pressure had increased unusually as most police personnel were deployed for election duties, leading to congestion—particularly on Chandra-bound lanes—though vehicle movement continued despite manpower shortages.
Supporting the allegations of fare hikes, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said he personally witnessed overcharging on several routes.
“Yesterday, I was dropping off a few office volunteers. Two of them were travelling to Chattogram and were charged Tk800 each, while the regular fare is Tk680. Even during Eid, higher fares are not charged on the Chattogram route,” he said.
“Many buses have been requisitioned by the government for election duties, creating a transport shortage at a time when passenger demand is extremely high,” he added.
