Holidaymakers swarm trains as Eid exodus gathers steam

Thousands of people are leaving Dhaka to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on the fifth day of train travel on advance tickets.

Homebound travellers thronged Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station on Wednesday. Security officers and personnel checked each passenger's ticket at the entrance before allowing them in.

Additionally, a second layer of security checks was being conducted before entry onto the platforms.

Between Wednesday morning and 11am, a total of 31 trains departed from Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station. The Lalmonirhat-bound special train left 30 minutes behind schedule, but most other trains departed on time.

Tahmid Abdul Hakim, a seventh-grader at Dhaka’s Ideal School, came to the station with his mother to travel to Netrokona’s Shyamganj on the Haor Express train.

He told bdnews24.com, “I visit my grandfather’s house twice every year for Eid. My cousins are there. It’s a lot of fun and we have a great time together.”

Anwar Hossain, a passenger on the Agnibina Express, told bdnews24.com: “I’m leaving Dhaka to celebrate Eid. But I missed my train. Because of traffic congestion, I was 10 minutes late. When I arrived, the train had already left.”

Kamalapur Station Manager Sajedul Islam said that all trains on Wednesday departed on time, except for the Teesta Express special, which was delayed due to electrical issues.

“Eid travel generally draws more crowds than usual. Today, the pressure of passengers seems higher compared with the past few days,” he added.

He noted that mobile courts are operating at the station to maintain order. Additionally, members of law-enforcing agencies are present.

“No one is being allowed to travel without tickets. Legal action will be taken if anyone involved in black market ticket sales is apprehended.”

Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on Jun 7 this year. Passengers with advance train tickets began their journeys home from May 31.