No rush at Gabtoli terminal as Eid holidays begin
All buses departed the capital at full capacity
Despite being the first official holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr today (28 March), there was no significant crowd at Dhaka's largest bus terminal, Gabtoli.
All buses departed the capital with full capacity, but the terminal remained as usual, without congestion.
Transport officials attributed this to the increasing trend of purchasing advance and online tickets, which has reduced the need for passengers to crowd ticket counters before the time of departure.
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Shyamoli Paribahan Senior Manager Prabhat Roy said, "Nowadays, most passengers buy their tickets online. Those who do not have online access purchase advance tickets from the counters. As a result, travellers arrive just before departure, preventing crowding at Gabtoli like before."
He further mentioned that around 60 trips are being operated from Gabtoli daily for different routes, with all buses fully booked.
"At this moment, there are no empty seats on our pre-scheduled buses. However, if any backup buses are added, we might issue tickets for those," he added.
Regarding road conditions, Prabhat Roy said, "There is no major traffic congestion this time. Only last night, there was a two-hour jam at Bhairab, but now all roads are clear. So far, we have not received any reports of traffic delays. Buses are dropping off passengers and returning to Dhaka quickly, allowing us to maintain our schedule."
Meanwhile, some transport operators at Gabtoli were reportedly charging fares above the government-fixed rates. However, on 26 March, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) magistrates fined several transport companies, prompting them to adhere to the official fares.
Md Tuhin, a sales executive of Hanif Paribahan, said, "A few smaller transport operators were overcharging passengers. However, after the BRTA imposed fines, everything is now in order. To our knowledge, no one is taking extra fares anymore. Even transport owners are monitoring the fares, and they are also taking action against violators."
To ensure security, the terminal has a control room operated by law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police. Additionally, the BRTA's vigilance team is actively monitoring the situation.
Foyez Ahmed, motor vehicle inspector at the BRTA control room, said, "Our magistrates and mobile teams are continuously inspecting the terminal. Any irregularities are dealt with immediately. Currently, no extra fares are being charged in the Gabtoli area.
"We are also providing a hotline number for complaints, and any report of violations is addressed promptly. Law enforcement personnel are on standby to handle any unexpected situations."
