Eid travelers face severe suffering due to transport shortage, fare hike

Garment workers in Savar and Ashulia are struggling to return home for Eid due to a serious shortage of transport, even though traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Aricha and Dhaka-Tangail highways is comparatively lighter this time.

Many people have been waiting for hours along the highways without managing to get on a bus. The few that do arrive are either overcrowded or charging double the regular fare, leading to growing frustration among passengers.

According to workers, the situation was better last Eid because factory holidays were given in phases. But this time, all factories closed at once, creating heavy pressure on the transport system.

On Friday (June 6) morning, large crowds of homebound people were seen at Nabinagar, Baipail, and Sripur bus stands in Savar. Faces were filled with worry and disappointment. Women, children, the elderly, and sick passengers were in the worst condition. Some couldn’t even find space in trucks or pickup vans.

At Baipail Bus Stand, garment worker Afzal Hossain (38) expressed his frustration, saying, “I’ve been waiting since 7.00am, but even after four and a half hours, I haven’t been able to catch a bus to Rangpur. The few buses that did come were packed beyond capacity—there wasn’t even standing room. On top of that, they’re demanding double the fare, and even then, you have to travel standing.”

Fatema Begum (32), a garment worker heading to Pabna, said, “I’ve been waiting since 9 am. My child is crying from hunger. We can't find a bus. And the few that do come are asking for so much money that poor people like us can't afford it.”

Zillur Rahman, counter master of Alhamara Paribahan, said, “There are too many passengers compared to the number of vehicles. Many buses have been reserved for Eid trips. Some buses haven’t returned to Dhaka yet. We're trying our best to get people to their destinations quickly, but we’re struggling due to a shortage of vehicles.”

Savar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saleh Ahmed said, “We’re working round the clock to keep the highways clear of traffic jams. But solving the public transport crisis is beyond our authority. We’re taking legal action if we get complaints about overcharging. Our patrols have also been increased to ensure passenger safety.”