As Eid-ul-Adha approaches, crowds of homebound travelers have surged at bus terminals and Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital. While most passengers are experiencing hassle-free journeys, reports of double fares have emerged in the Shyamoli-Kallyanpur area.
In contrast, the river route presents a different scenario—Sadarghat Launch Terminal has seen lukewarm response to advance ticket sales, with many cabin tickets remaining unsold.
At Mohakhali Bus Terminal on Wednesday noon, passengers were seen queuing for tickets. Volunteers and police were actively ensuring safe journeys, while announcements from the bus owners’ association played over the loudspeakers.
Around 3:15pm, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury inspected the terminal, checking long-distance buses and inquiring about overcharging. Speaking to journalists, he warned, “If anyone demands extra fares at Mohakhali, report it to the owners’ association or law enforcement. Immediate action will be taken.”
He added, “The government has taken all measures for safe Eid travel. Insha’Allah, this year’s journeys will be smooth.”
The Mohakhali Bus Owners’ Association stated they reduced Dhaka-Mymensingh fares from Tk325 to Tk310 and had arranged 50 additional buses from Mymensingh to accommodate travelers.
At Gabtoli, Kallyanpur, and Shyamoli terminals, heavy passenger traffic was observed. Selim Rahman, a Rangpur-bound traveler at Shyamoli, told Times of Bangladesh: “Pirganj business-class tickets were Tk1,400-1,500, but now they are selling for Tk2,500. I paid Tk5,300 Taka for two tickets, including Tk300 as a tip to counter staff.”
Terminal managers defended the hikes as “normal before Eid,” with non-AC bus fares rising by Tk50-100.
By 2pm at Kamalapur, 31 intercity trains had departed, with 4-5 delayed briefly. Station Manager Sajedul Islam reported heightened security checks to prevent ticketless entry and loitering.
Since Padma Bridge’s opening, southern river routes have lost their usual crowds. Though Eid sees a slight increase, launch numbers remain reduced. Authorities expect passenger surges starting Wednesday evening.
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched “Eid Special Service” on Tuesday, deploying 650 buses until June 14. Dhaka Transport Owners’ Association Secretary General Saiful Islam mentioned CCTV installation requests in long-haul buses to prevent crimes and harassment, hoping for “comfortable journeys home.”