People have started leaving Chattogram city to return to their hometowns ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, although bus terminals have not yet witnessed heavy crowds as the Eid holidays are longer this year.
Holidaymakers, however, have complained that bus operators are charging fares for the final destination of a route instead of issuing tickets according to passengers’ actual destinations.
Transport operators are also facing difficulties due to concerns over a possible fuel shortage and long queues at filling stations.
A visit to AK Khan intersection, Alankar and the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) terminal areas in the port city on Sunday showed that many people had already begun travelling on long-distance buses, with some heading to Cumilla and others to Dhaka, Sylhet or Rajshahi.
Transport owners said that although the number of passengers remains relatively low, it is gradually increasing.
The holiday for Shab-e-Qadr will fall on 17 March, resulting in a seven-day Eid break from 17 to 23 March this year.
Although the official holidays have not yet started, transport operators expect the Eid travel rush to intensify from 17 March.
Once government and private offices close for the holidays, a large number of people are expected to leave the city.
At that time, major crowds may appear at AK Khan, Alankar and Kadamtali bus terminals, as well as the railway station area. So far, bus counters at Alankar and AK Khan have not experienced significant pressure.
A sales representative at the Dampara counter of Green Line Paribahan said passenger pressure remains moderate for now but could rise once the official holidays begin.
At the Alankar bus terminal, several passengers travelling to Bogura complained that they were forced to pay up to Tk500 extra. A similar situation was reported at the BRTC bus terminal.
Passengers travelling to Jashore were required to purchase tickets for the bus’s final destination, while those heading to Faridpur were asked to buy tickets for Pirojpur.
Buses to Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and other routes in southern Chattogram depart from the Shah Amanat Bridge roundabout and a one-kilometre stretch around Bahaddarhat.
CNG-run auto-rickshaws also operate from the Shah Amanat Bridge roundabout to Anwara, Banshkhali and Karnaphuli upazilas.
Holidaymakers alleged that many unidentified buses operate in these areas, while CNG-run auto-rickshaws are also charging higher fares.
Passenger Saiful Islam in the Shah Amanat Bridge area said his home is in Banshkhali. Under normal circumstances, he pays Tk100 to Tk120 to travel home, which rises to Tk150 during Eid. This year, he is being charged Tk180 to Tk200. He alleged that vehicle operators are collecting extra fares under the label of “special service”.
According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the distance from Bahaddarhat bus terminal to Banshkhali is 44 kilometres. The fare has been fixed at Tk2.12 per kilometre, meaning the total fare on the route should be Tk93.28.
Transport operators, however, denied the allegations of overcharging. They claimed no additional fares are being collected and said that if passengers do not travel to the final destination, bus operations become financially unviable.
Transport operators also said the fuel situation has further complicated operations. Buses are having to wait for hours in queues at filling stations to collect fuel, preventing many vehicles from being deployed on schedule.
Chattogram Transport Owners’ Association Joint Convener Shahjahan said the situation regarding fuel has become extremely difficult.
He said pumps are unable to supply sufficient fuel, and buses are forced to stand in long queues, causing operational disruptions.
Some buses are also failing to return on time from northern and southern regions of the country, which is creating additional difficulties.
Regarding allegations of higher fares, he said there is no opportunity to charge extra. Bus fares are fixed according to the government gazette, he said, adding that passengers may perceive the fares as high, but operators are largely following the official rates.
He also said action will be taken if any local transport operator attempts to collect excessive fares.
Demand for rent-a-car services has also increased ahead of Eid, as many people prefer hiring private vehicles to travel home comfortably with their families.
However, rent-a-car operators said they are unable to supply enough vehicles due to the fuel shortage. National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate Chattogram Deputy Director Mohammad Foyez Ullah said drives have been conducted against overcharging.
He said mobile courts carried out operations in areas including Shah Amanat Bridge, Alankar and AK Khan.
Several bus counters were fined for collecting excessive fares, and additional money taken from passengers was returned. The drives will continue, and action will be taken if operators charge extra fares, he added.
