As the Eid-ul-Azha holidays begin, tens of thousands of people have started leaving the capital city for their hometowns.
On Thursday, June 5, major transportation hubs including Sadarghat, Kamalapur, Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Saidabad witnessed overwhelming crowds and long queues as people rushed to catch buses, trains, and launches.
Despite waiting for hours, many passengers failed to secure tickets. Some were seen buying tickets at inflated prices from counters, while others sat on pavements exhausted and frustrated. Complaints of excessive ticket fares were widespread.
A passenger heading to Noakhali noted that a ticket that usually costs 400 taka was now being sold for 550 taka. Many travelers echoed similar frustrations, saying that fare hikes during Eid have become a normalized form of extortion.
Local buses were no exception to the chaos. A university student from Dhaka reported being assaulted by a bus driver after refusing to pay an unjustified extra fare. He also claimed that after trying to report the incident, he was passed from one police booth to another, with no action taken.
Adding to the trouble was severe traffic congestion throughout the city and on major highways. Vehicles moved slowly or not at all on key routes, particularly on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway through Tongi, Gazipur Chourasta, and Board Bazar, where gridlock began as early as 9:00 AM. One commuter stated they had been on the road since 7:00 AM but had yet to pass Gazipur Chourasta by 9:00 AM.
Several areas in the city—such as Jatrabari, Dholai Par, Motijheel, Kamalapur, Badda, and Basabo—were also plagued by long traffic jams. The situation worsened due to rainfall, increasing discomfort for commuters.
One passenger traveling from Basabo remarked that even after two hours, they hadn’t reached Jatrabari and feared they would spend the entire day stuck on the road due to the rain and gridlock.
In some locations, including Dholai Khal, Sutrapur, and Dayaganj, cattle markets have taken over roads, severely disrupting access to nearby areas and Sadarghat-bound travelers.
In Jatrabari, a traffic officer explained that the high number of inter-district bus counters operating from roadside areas leads to buses idling on the streets, paralyzing traffic. Efforts are underway to control the situation.
Meanwhile, military personnel conducted a morning inspection at temporary bus counters in the Dholai Par area following allegations of fare gouging targeting south-bound passengers.
As today marks the first day of a 10-day government holiday, a record number of people are expected to leave the capital. However, many travelers expressed disappointment that their Eid journey began with such distress, dampening the festive spirit.
