No Buses, Double Fares: Eid Travelers Suffer on Dhaka–Tangail Highway
On the day before Eid, people from the northern region are still returning home via the Dhaka–Tangail–Jamuna Bridge highway. Due to fewer public transport vehicles than usual, there has been a severe shortage of buses.
Even after standing for hours, homebound passengers are unable to find buses. Many are taking risks by traveling in open trucks and pickup vans to reach their destinations.
Although highway police claim that the pressure of vehicles on the highway is very low, people from the northern region are returning home “comfortably” on the day before Eid.
On Friday, visiting the Rabna and Elenga bus stands on the highway, it was seen that people some alone, some with families were waiting to go home.
Many passengers complained that extra fares are being charged from them at the last moment.
Mizanur Rahman, a passenger heading to Dimla in Nilphamari, said, “I work at a business establishment in Tangail. Over the past two days, there was a lot of traffic pressure on the highway. I heard people suffered a lot.
“So I decided to travel on the day before Eid. But it didn’t help. Even after standing for one and a half hours, I couldn’t find any bus to Dimla.”
Akkas Ali, who was heading to Bogura, said, “I found one bus. But I would have to travel standing, and they demanded double fare. Normally, it costs 400 to 500 taka to go home, but today they are asking for 800 taka.”
Hasna Begum said, “There are no buses, so I am going to Rangpur by pickup van. I have been under the sun since morning. It may rain after some time.
“If it rains, I will have to get wet. There is no end to the suffering of low-income people like me.”
Officer-in-Charge of Elenga Highway Police Outpost, Md. Sharif, said that the pressure of vehicles on the highway is very low. People from the northern region are returning home comfortably on the day before Eid.
