After a seven-day Eid holiday, banks, offices and courts reopened across the country on Tuesday, as people began returning to the capital for work.
The holiday, which lasted from 17 to 23 March, saw many leaving Dhaka for their hometowns. However, with primary and secondary schools remaining closed from 19 February to 26 March, the capital is still relatively quiet.
Unlike previous years, the usual rush of returnees has yet to fully materialise, with many people returning in phases and some still leaving Dhaka even on the last day of the holiday.
While passengers reported relatively comfortable journeys by road and river, disruptions in train schedules and an ongoing fuel shortage caused significant suffering for travellers.
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary general of the Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association, said the influx of returnees to Dhaka has not yet peaked. “People are returning gradually. However, due to fuel shortages, transport operators are reducing trips, leading to ticket shortages and higher fares,” he said.
At Kamalapur Railway Station on Tuesday morning, outbound passengers initially outnumbered those returning to Dhaka, but the flow of incoming passengers increased as the day progressed. Many travellers expressed frustration over delays.
Trains on multiple routes were running behind schedule. The Burimari Express from Gaibandha arrived late after making unscheduled stops, while passengers on other services reported similar delays.
Rasha Majumdar, a passenger on the Dhumketu Express from Mymensingh, said she had to travel with a standing ticket after failing to secure one online. “The train stopped at several points along the way, causing long delays,” she said.
Several trains, including the Jamalpur Express, Ekota Express, Ruposhi Bangla Express, Tourist Express and Balaka Express, also departed late from Kamalapur.
Passengers further complained of overcrowding, with higher fares charged for additional coaches but insufficient seating.
Meanwhile, bus terminals at Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Jatrabari saw a steady influx of passengers returning from districts such as Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Cumilla, Chandpur, Barishal, Khulna and Patuakhali.
Road travel remained largely smooth, with no major traffic congestion reported on highways. However, a severe fuel shortage disrupted journeys for long-distance buses, private cars and motorcycles.
Drivers reported difficulties in refuelling. A driver of Orin Express from Gaibandha said he had to borrow diesel from another bus counter in Tangail after failing to find fuel at multiple stations.
Private vehicle users faced the worst situation, with long queues at filling stations and shortages of octane and other fuel reported in several areas.
Passengers also complained of increased fares. On the Faridpur–Dhaka route, travellers said they were being charged higher fares similar to those during the outbound Eid rush.
In contrast, river transport offered relative relief. Passengers at Sadarghat said services were smoother, with free porter and trolley services easing the handling of luggage.
To manage the expected pressure of 800,000 to one million returnees, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken special measures, including operating additional terminals and launching free porter services for 10 days. Around 166 to 170 launches have been kept ready for operation.
Despite the return rush, some people are still leaving Dhaka. Officials on the Monpura–Hatia route reported that most cabins on launches remain booked, though crowds have slightly decreased compared to previous days.
Earlier, the government had assured adequate fuel supply to ensure smooth Eid travel. However, the current situation indicates that shortages are still affecting transport services.
