People rush home defying Covid

Hundreds of thousands of people are heading home to celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha with their families ignoring risks of highly-contagious coronavirus that has infected more than a million people in Bangladesh in the last 16 months.

Bus and launch terminals were overcrowded with people queuing up for hours waiting for their rides.

The rush was worsened as the readymade garment workers started heading home after getting confirmation that factories would remain closed from tomorrow.

“I booked a ticket paying extra fare to travel to Rangpur. I have been waiting at the terminal for two hours but the bus is yet to arrive,” Najir Uddin, a passenger at Gabtoli Bus Terminal told The Business Post.

The bus was scheduled to arrive at 8:00am but it was nowhere to be seen even at 10:00am, increasing the worries of passengers like Najir.

“The bus schedule is being disrupted by massive traffic gridlocks on the highways,” said Iddrish Mia, a staffer of Khalek Paribahan.

Mohakhali Bus Terminal was full of passengers in the evening waiting to travel to Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and other destinations. Bus owners are charging several times more fare than the ones approved by the government.

“Travelling to Jamalpur by bus usually costs Tk 300 but the companies are charging as much as Tk 800. Moreover, they are taking passengers against every seat violating social distancing rules during this pandemic,” Shahriar, a passenger, said.

The counter manager of Rajib Paribahan left his seat and declined to comment.

Meanwhile, passengers bound for southern region of the country also faced difficulties in boarding launches.

“I am worried about safety as the terminal is packed with homebound people and no one here is following health safety guidelines,” said Monjur Hossain, a passenger bound for Barguna.

He said the number of launches is less than the normal times, which increased the suffering of the people.

Usually, at least 150 launches leave Dhaka per day during the Eid season which was around 100 on Monday, said Sheikh Md Selim Reza, deputy director (Traffic) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.

Passengers were dissatisfied with extra fare and faced some difficulties due to fewer available vessels, he added.

“I usually pay Tk 2,200 for a family cabin but I had to pay Tk 2,800 for Eid journey,” said Sajibul Islam Raju, a passenger of Sharrukh-2 launch heading to Barguna.

He managed to rent a cabin at a higher price but said the additional number of passengers would make the journey uncomfortable.

Launch operators admitted that the fare has risen during the Eid holidays. Md Milon Hossen, master of Sharrukh-2 Launch, said the fare for deck has risen to Tk 500 from Tk 400 while a single cabin, which generally costs Tk 1,200 was going for Tk 1,500. Double cabin now costs Tk 2,800, up from Tk 2,400.

Trains maintain schedule

Meanwhile, the presence of passengers at railway stations was thinner. Half of the trains’ seats were left empty as part of the government’s health safety guideline.

However, many of the passengers did not follow health safety rules and some were not even wearing masks.

Bangladesh Railway began its advance online ticket sale from July 13, promising home-goers a hassle-free journey.

Every train left the platform at the specified time.

Mohammad Masud Sarwar, Station Manager of Bangladesh Railway, Dhaka, said, there were fewer passengers as per an earlier decision by the government.

“I bought tickets earlier and managed to get on the train,” said Mir Hassan. “The train is leaving on time.”