Thousands of Dhaka residents have embarked on risky journeys to their hometowns for Eid-ul-Adha celebrations, with transport hubs witnessing unprecedented crowds since early Thursday morning when the official holiday period began. The capital’s roads, railways, and waterways are all experiencing heavy passenger pressure, compounded by adverse weather conditions that have significantly increased travel hardships.
At Kamalapur Railway Station, the day began with Balaka Express departing for Mymensingh just before 5am. By mid-morning, 10 trains, including 8 intercity and 2 local services, had already left, with 54 scheduled throughout the day, including special Eid trains. While online ticket holders created packed platforms, those without advance bookings were forced to purchase standing tickets, some even resorting to riding on train roofs under tightened security measures.
The situation at bus terminals turned equally chaotic, with Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Jatrabari hubs seeing surging crowds since Wednesday night. At Gabtoli, banker Hasibur Rahman traveling to Rangpur with his family described crawling through severe traffic from College Gate to the terminal, only to find his 9am bus delayed by 30 minutes.
Abdul Jalil from Dinajpur endured an hour-long wait, while Mymensingh-bound Rokhsana Parvin at Mohakhali reported similar frustrations. The Dhaka-Tangail highway became particularly problematic, with 23 kilometres of stop-and-go traffic caused by multiple accidents and vehicle breakdowns amid the holiday rush.
Meanwhile, Sadarghat launch terminal saw steadily growing crowds throughout the morning as both pre-booked and last-minute travelers boarded vessels. Authorities have implemented heightened security across all transport points to manage the Eid exodus, though adverse weather and infrastructure strain continue testing travelers’ patience across routes.