As Eid-ul-Adha celebrations conclude, Dhaka witnesses chaotic return journeys with packed trains and buses bringing back holidaymakers, most of whom are flouting mask mandates despite COVID-19 risks. The scene at Kamalapur Railway Station on Wednesday afternoon revealed alarming disregard for health protocols, with nearly all passengers traveling maskless in overcrowded non-AC compartments. Even AC coaches meant for seated passengers were crammed with standing-ticket holders, creating conditions ripe for virus transmission.
The road transport sector presents a contrasting picture – while buses at Gabtoli terminal now depart with just five to ten passengers for outbound trips, inbound vehicles from northern districts like Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Bogura are arriving overloaded. Transport operators report this imbalance, with Hanif Paribahan’s counter master Abdul Awal confirming all tickets booked till June 17 from northwestern routes. “We expect this return pressure to continue throughout June,” he added.
Private offices have resumed operations since Tuesday, prompting many professionals like Chapainawabganj businessman Khairul Islam to cut short their holidays. “My establishment reopened after Eid, so I’m returning with my family to attend to work this afternoon,” Islam told reporters. Students like Shoaib Mahmud from a private university also joined the return flow, compelled by academic commitments after celebrating Eid with parents in Bogura.
Air travel shows similar patterns, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines and private carriers maintaining regular flight schedules to major cities. Biman’s PR officer Raushan Kabir noted, “Our standard flights are serving both holiday returnees and essential travelers without any special Eid arrangements.” Airlines like US-Bangla and Novoair followed the same approach, operating normal flights throughout the festival period.
Authorities appear conspicuously absent in enforcing health guidelines. When questioned about the maskless crowds at Kamalapur Station, Railway Master Anwar Hossain shifted responsibility, stating, “We’ve received no instructions about enforcing health protocols – that decision rests with higher officials.” This institutional apathy matches public indifference, as noted by Chatmohar-returned passenger Maruf Hossain: “The return journey’s crowding matched our outbound suffering – nobody seems to care about safety measures anymore.”
The situation underscores a dangerous complacency setting in among both travelers and transport operators, with packed vehicles and mask-free travel becoming the norm rather than the exception. With government offices still on holiday for three more days, the capital braces for further influxes that could test its already strained public health safeguards.