As transport owners charge extra fares during the Eid exodus, Eid holidaymakers ride on a truck to go to their village homes. The photo was taken in the capital’s Gabtoli Bus Terminal area on Friday. -Muktadir Mokto

Eid holidaymakers left the capital in droves on Friday to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their near and dear ones at their village homes.

As a large number of homebound people started leaving the capital, most of the bus terminals and railway stations were jam-packed on Friday.

Many passengers suffered due to traffic snarl-ups on different roads and highways on Friday due to a heavy pressure of vehicles carrying holidaymakers and cattle ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Chattogram highways witnessed increased traffic pressure on Friday.

A long tailback was seen on this highway due to multiple road accidents around 5am on Friday, creating immense suffering for the holidaymakers.

Meanwhile, vehicles at the Padma Bridge toll plaza were seen waiting longer than usual due to

increased traffic pressure, causing a 2-kilometre-long tailback in the bridge area.

Homebound people leave capital in drovesHeavy traffic congestion was also observed in the capital’s Gabtoli, Hanif flyover, and Syedabad areas. Vehicles had to wait for two to three hours to leave the capital.

A Rangpur-bound passenger named Humayun Kabir said, “Vehicles are not available on the road as per the demand. Moreover, traffic congestion is there. Hence, going home has become a little difficult.”

A passenger on the Mymensingh route said that earlier, the fare from Dhaka to Haluaghat was Tk300; now, on the occasion of Eid, the transport companies are charging Tk600.

ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, said, “The fare list is hung on every counter. And if any bus charges extra fare, then there is police, there is magistrate; complain to them. If we receive complaints, we will take action immediately.”

Kamalapur railway station packed with passengers

While visiting Kamalapur railway station, this correspondent found an increased number of passengers waiting for the train on the platform. On Thursday, passengers were also seen climbing on the roofs of North Bengal-bound trains.

Trains depart on time

Most of the trains left the capital on time as of Friday afternoon, according to railway authorities.

Kamalapur Railway Station Manager Md Masud Sarwar told the Daily Sun on Friday, “Every train left on time as of this afternoon. Passengers were prevented from travelling on the roof of the train.”

Passenger pressure increases slightly at Sadarghat Launch Terminal

The rush of passengers at the Sadarghat Launch Terminal increased slightly on Friday.

Most of the launches left the terminal on time at the fare fixed by the government.