Eid rush at Kamalapur: Paaengers suffers as five northbound trains delay

Thousands of Eid holiday travellers crowded Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station on Monday (May 25) as the rush for home intensified on the first day of the extended Eid-ul-Azha vacation and the third day of Eid train journeys.

However, the festive travel rush was disrupted after at least five trains, including several northbound services, were delayed, leaving passengers stranded for hours and triggering widespread frustration at the station.

Railway authorities attributed the delays to “operational issues” and slow train movement caused by locals drying hay on railway tracks in some areas. But many passengers expressed anger over prolonged waiting times and lack of clear updates regarding train schedules.

A visit to Kamalapur station at this morning showed long queues of passengers stretching from the parking area. Travellers were required to pass through special bamboo-made security checkpoints before entering platforms, where ticket examiners conducted additional verification.

Inside the station, thousands of passengers were seen anxiously waiting and repeatedly checking digital schedule boards for updates on delayed trains, with a large number of them travelling to northern districts for Eid celebrations.

Station sources said around 15 trains departed for different destinations since morning. While most services left on schedule, two trains departed late and at least two others remained stranded at platforms long after their scheduled departure times.

Despite the delays, railway authorities said efforts were continuing to maintain smooth Eid travel management and minimize passenger suffering during the holiday rush.