Chattogram, Sylhet highways see growing rush of holidaymakers

Crowds of homebound people increased on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet highways on Saturday, on the first day of the Eid vacation, despite coronavirus restrictions.

Compared to the previous days, police officials in these areas are doing their duties in a more relaxed manner which resulted in the unhindered movement of people.

People with family members, including small children, crowded the bus stops at Signboard, Shimrail, Kachpur, Sodonpur, Mograpara, Meghnaghat, Daudkandi and other surrounding areas – without maintaining social distancing to find transport for their destinations.

In the absence of public transport on roads, the homebound people are travelling to their destinations by renting private cars, motorbikes and CNG-run auto rickshaws.

This rush has pushed up the fare as drivers of these vehicles are demanding way more price from passengers than the usual rate.

Passengers said, as there is no public transport on the roads, they are forced to use such vehicles to reach their destinations. Drivers show the excuse of being harassed by law enforcers for bringing out their vehicles on the road during the shutdown and are asking for twice the usual fare.

Drivers further said they would have to come back with empty vehicle after dropping passengers to their destinations, and that is why they ask for higher fare to adjust their costs.

Kamrul Islam, sub-inspector at Narayanganj traffic police, said, "The rush of homebound people for Eid is lower compared to other years. Many people have been sent back after repeated interrogations at police check-posts at different exit points of the city."

"The people who were allowed to leave Dhaka are day labourers and they do not have a place to celebrate Eid here. So we are letting them go," added Kamrul.