With Eid-ul-Azha almost upon us, now is the time for the government to bolster the infrastructure in a way that can tackle the expected onrush of holiday-makers set to leave the capital city for their hometowns.
To that end, it appears that the police, along with other relevant authorities, have pin-pointed three main reasons why Eid-ul-Azha trips for those travelling to the northern districts of Bangladesh might be especially difficult this year. Factors such as ongoing renovation work of the Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur highway, the presence of cattle markets along the route, and an anticipated surge in traffic.
While a bit too late for this year, the fact that the administration is now actively collating such information is a step in the right direction, considering just how much of a hassle it has been in the past for Dhaka citizens to make their Eid destinations in the past. While infrastructural issues can often be unpredictable, given the perpetually in-development nature of our capital city, there have been a host of other problems which have exacerbated the frustrations of those travelling for Eid.
Problems such as an inefficient, and often faulty, ticketing system and excessive pressure on both roads and waterways due to too many people leaving at once have been prevalent. While promises were made last year of an increased number of ferries and launches available at the Daulatdia ghat, they ultimately fell short.
There is no real reason why holiday-making should become a frustrating chore itself.
While identifying weak points and bottlenecks is a good start, ultimately, what we need is a comprehensive plan that ensures smooth connectivity for Eid-time travellers.
