Transporters using hand mike to attract eid passengers

With Eid approaching, factories in Ashulia’s industrial zone have declared holidays. As the country enters a nearly 13-day-long holiday period, most workers have already left for their hometowns. However, unlike previous years, the usual traffic congestion is missing from the roads. On Friday, the scene on two major highways in Savar and Ashulia was completely different from previous years.

Eid travel officially began on March 24, but bus terminals in Savar and Ashulia have seen more buses than passengers. According to transport owners, the lack of congestion is due to factories closing in phases, passengers booking advance tickets, and many families sending their members home earlier.

On Friday morning, a field visit revealed that the usual rush of travelers was absent at major bus stops along the Dhaka-Aricha and Nabinagar-Chandra highways. Instead, there were more buses than passengers. Many travelers have opted for cheaper alternatives, such as hiring trucks or pickups, reducing crowding at bus counters.

Observations from Savar Bus Stand, Nabinagar, Baipail, Sripur, Zirani, and Baraipara, as well as information gathered from various highway points, indicate that there is little to no congestion except in a few spots. However, some buses are stopping in the middle of the road for long periods in an attempt to pick up passengers, causing minor traffic jams at certain points. Transport workers expressed frustration over the low passenger turnout.

The situation has become so dire that operators are announcing available seats over loudspeakers, yet still struggling to find passengers. Despite the low demand, some travelers have reported being charged extra fares.

Shamim, a passenger traveling to Dinajpur, mentioned that he had to pay an increased fare. However, due to the abundance of buses and the lack of crowding, he was able to depart on time, making his journey smoother than previous years.

"This is the first time I’ll get to see my infant child in person. So even though the fare is high, I’m happy as long as I can reach home on time," he said.

He recalled the difficulties of last year’s journey, stating, "Last year, I had to wait for hours on the road, struggling to find a bus. The congestion was unbearable. But this time, buses were waiting for us even before we arrived at the terminal. I didn’t face any traffic on my way here either. Hopefully, I will reach home safely and on time."

Garment worker Rehana, who is traveling with her family to Sirajganj, shared a similar experience. "Last year, I couldn’t even get a bus despite paying a high fare. I had to travel home on a truck. But this time, I got a ticket and a bus immediately upon arriving at the counter, with no waiting required," she said.

Jisan, the counter master of Alhamara Bus Service, described the unprecedented drop in passengers. "We have never faced such a slow season before. Last year, there were long queues in front of our counter. But this time, the buses are standing empty, waiting for passengers. We are now using loudspeakers to sell tickets. Because of the phased holidays and staggered departures, fewer people are traveling at once," he explained.

Savar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Saugatul Alam assured that police are strictly managing traffic to prevent congestion. He added that security measures have been significantly tightened compared to previous years.