How Bangladesh averted nightmarish Eid holiday travel

Hundreds of thousands of folks depart Dhaka for their hometowns and villages in advance of Eid every 12 months, placing enormous strain on rundown highways. Coupled with mismanagement, a deficiency of transports and additional fare, the sufferings of travellers get to an intolerable level.

With no pandemic restriction in area this time, a study by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology predicted a few million inhabitants would leave the city just about every working day before Eid towards the country’s capability to transportation 1.6 million day by day.

Citing facts from the cellular cellular phone operators, Put up and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar explained 7.3 million SIM card subscribers remaining Dhaka in the 4 times from Apr 27, matching the stage of exodus noticed amid a coronavirus lockdown during Eid-ul-Azha last yr.

But the journeys have so significantly been unprecedentedly easy.

With colleges and schools closed, quite a few still left the town early in advance of the extended holiday getaway, which features Might Working day and weekends as effectively. Discovering a lesson from earlier difficulties, a lot of opted for a motorbike journey, easing pressure from buses, trains and launches.

The authorities also claimed credit history for the smooth travel. They suspended roadwork and opened underneath-design flyovers and streets to traffic. More policemen have also been deployed to ease targeted visitors congestion and protect against problems for travellers at ticket counters.

‘POLICE ARE ACTIVE’

4 policemen had been trying to keep purchase at Kalyanpur counters as buses were being returning to acquire passengers.

Police are lively also on the highways, claimed Rahmat Ullah, a superintendent of highway police.

“We’ve recognized the spots the place targeted visitors keep-ups acquire. Ample policemen have been deployed to these places for spherical-the-clock checking. Which is why persons are possessing cozy visits,” he stated.

Officials stated all around 600 policemen have been deployed on the freeway in Sirajganj to simplicity targeted traffic jams.

‘BETTER ROADS’

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader thinks roads and highways throughout Bangladesh are in a lot superior condition for the holiday travel rush this Eid than at any time in the previous.

“I don’t assume the [traffic] difficulties we experienced in Gazipur will recur as we’ve opened 3 flyovers. Autos are travelling on a regular basis on the flyovers,” he stated.

Quader reported the authorities have conquer the long-lasting complications with travelling to and from the northern section of the place by developing the Nalka Bridge. “I really don’t assume there’ll be any much more trouble.”

He blamed the “impatience” of motorists for the ongoing visitors snarl-ups at some locations, which frustrates all the actions taken by the govt.

“They drive on the mistaken facet of the highway every time they see a slight website traffic jam. It will cause significant congestion in the overall place if only two or a few vehicles finish up on the erroneous side of the highway. We’re wanting into the make a difference.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been making queries about the circumstance on roads to make sure smooth journeys for homebound travellers on the Eid holiday seasons, he mentioned.

‘ORDERLY SERVICE’

All the ferries are operating on Shimulia-Banglabazar and Paturia-Daulatdia routes. Consequently, the passengers do not have wait for long at the piers.

“I simply cannot say there’s no suffering. People today are suffering a small at Shimulia as the strain is superior there. But the visits by Paturia-Daulatdia are easy,” reported Condition Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.

“We’re striving to offer the expert services in an orderly way. Which is why travellers think about the journeys at ease regardless of some sufferings.”

[Additional reporting by Senior Correspondents Kamal Hossain Talukdar and Golam Mortuja, writing in English by Osham-ul-Sufian Talukder]