Eid holidaymakers returning to Dhaka, northern travellers face traffic jam

Thousands of Eid-ul-Adha holidaymakers began returning to Dhaka on Friday (13 June), ahead of offices reopening over the weekend, with many reporting long delays and fare hikes—especially on routes from the northern region.

Passenger pressure was visible across roads, waterways, and rail routes. 

While travellers from southern districts mostly returned without major issues, those from the north faced significant traffic congestion and extended travel times.

Sabuj Hossain, who travelled from Barguna on Thursday night, reached Dhaka early Friday morning.

"There was not much traffic on the way, but I had to pay Tk1,500 for an AC bus ticket instead of the usual Tk1,200. Still, I am relieved to return on time," he told The Business Standard.

Riyajul Islam, travelling from Thakurgaon, was less fortunate. His journey to Dhaka took 17 hours – almost double the usual time.

"We were stuck for about four hours before the Jamuna Bridge toll plaza. There was also heavy traffic in Elenga and at the city entrance," he said, adding that he paid Tk1,600 for a ticket that normally costs Tk1,000. "People from our region suffer like this every Eid."

The capital's main bus terminals – Gabtoli, Kalyanpur, Mohakhali, and Sayedabad – witnessed heavy crowds, along with Sadarghat launch terminal and Kamalapur railway station.

Launches from the southern region carried large numbers of passengers. Most trains arriving in Dhaka were also packed.

However, passenger flow at Gabtoli and Mohakhali eased as the day progressed. Buses from Barishal, Chattogram, Khulna, Jashore, and Faridpur saw a steady stream of arrivals at Sayedabad.

Ikramul Haque, who returned from Khulna, said, "Even though I paid 50% more than the regular bus fare, the journey was smooth. The longer Eid break helped reduce the usual crowd."

Others complained about ticket prices and poor bus quality. Huzaifa Akhtar, returning from Barishal, said, "I had to pay Tk800 for a Tk500 ticket and travel in a low-quality bus. Though the roads were empty, fare irregularities continue every Eid."

Md Deen Islam, a road workers' committee member at Mohakhali Bus Terminal, claimed passenger suffering was reduced this time.

"There are extra security arrangements by the police and army. We have not received any fare-related complaints," he said.

Waterway travellers also experienced overcrowding. Halim Mia, who travelled by launch from Patuakhali, said, "The launch was so full I had to sit on the floor in front of the cabins. There was little visible security."

High traffic volume at the Paturia Ghat in Manikganj led to delays of 1–2 hours. Some passengers opted to cross the river by trawler and then take buses to Dhaka.

Md Shimul Hossain, terminal supervisor of the BIWTA Aricha office, said, "We currently have 18 launches operating on the Daulatdia-Paturia route. Two more are on standby to meet additional demand."

Antara Akhtar, travelling from Pabna, said, "I had to take a detour through Aricha as no direct bus tickets were available. Even then, I had to pay Tk200 for a Tk150 fare on Selfi Paribahan."

The most severe delays were reported along the northern route. A major traffic jam developed at the Jamuna Bridge from Friday midnight due to the surge in returning vehicles. Passengers reported being stuck for up to three hours.

Jamuna Bridge authorities stated that traffic volume had tripled compared to regular days. While about 18,000 vehicles normally use the highway daily, the number rose to 38,539 in 24 hours until Friday morning, generating over Tk2.79 crore in tolls.

Passengers blamed slow toll collection for the delays. Garment worker Rehala Begum said, "Our 8-hour journey took 18 hours. Toll collection is too slow—if it were faster, the suffering would be less."

Md Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of the Jamuna Bridge West Police Station, said, "Delays at the toll plaza are causing the jam. The bridge authority is struggling to keep up."

Executive Engineer Ahsanul Kabir Pavel confirmed that tolls were being collected at nine booths but acknowledged that occasional vehicle breakdowns on the bridge also contributed to congestion.