A heavy rush of holidaymakers heading to their home districts was witnessed across bus terminals, railway stations, and launch terminals in Dhaka as a continuous five-day holiday for the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival got underway.
Desiring to share the joy of the festival with family, residents began leaving the capital on Monday afternoon. Passengers carried luggage, accompanied family members, and navigated busy transit points to catch buses, trains, and launches bound for various districts.
With government holidays declared from October 20 to 22 combining with the upcoming weekend, a continuous five-day break spanning Tuesday (October 20) through Saturday (October 24) was created. Many residents arranged to leave the capital early to spend time with relatives, leading to increased crowds at major transportation hubs ahead of the main celebrations.
On Monday evening, the Sadarghat launch terminal recorded higher passenger traffic than usual, with commuters traveling to Barishal and other southern districts rushing to board launches.
Similarly, Tisha Plus bus counters in Arambagh, catering to passengers traveling toward Cumilla, reported significant passenger pressure. Counter staff noted that despite the high volume of commuters, transport operators maintained standard fare rates without charging extra.
Kamlapur Railway Station also experienced an influx of holidaymakers preparing to board trains with their families.
For the Hindu community, Durga Puja represents a major occasion for family reunions and visiting relatives. Up to Monday evening, authorities reported no formal complaints regarding overcharging on fares across long-distance transport routes.
FP/A
