United News of Bangladesh

The number of homebound passengers has increased  at the Paturia ferry terminal in Manikganj as people from 21 districts in the southwestern region are heading home to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha. Witnesses said pressure of passengers using ferries and launches has increased sharply since Thursday morning.  A total of 17 ferries and 20 launches are currently operating on the Paturia-Daulatdia waterway to ensure a safe and uninterrupted Eid journey. Passengers said they did not have to wait long to board ferries or launches as vessels were arriving and departing regularly.  Eid home rush: 12-km tailback on Dhaka-M’sing highway Many expressed satisfaction over the overall travel experience. To maintain security and prevent any untoward incidents members of the police, river police, and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed in sufficient numbers around the terminal area. Superintendent of Police Yasmin Akhter visited the terminal and expressed satisfaction over the overall situation, saying security measures have been strengthened to ensure a smooth Eid journey.  

With Eid approaching, the pressure of passengers and vehicles has increased slightly at Manikganj’s Paturia ferry terminal, which connects 21 districts in the southwestern region. The number of passengers using "Kata Line" launch service has also risen significantly. However, as the congestion remains manageable, Eid holidaymakers are crossing the river with relative ease. Additional police personnel have been deployed to maintain discipline. Separate lanes for small and large vehicles have been arranged to ensure smooth ferry boarding. Vising the terminal on Thursday morning the correspondent found  vehicles were boarding ferries without difficulty. However, passengers using the launch service faced some inconvenience as "Kata Line" buses dropped them nearly a kilometer away from the ferry terminal, forcing them to walk the remaining distance. Drivers expressed relief over the hassle-free ferry boarding but they complained about delays in crossing the river. Due to navigability issues, ferries cannot use the main channel directly, they said. Despite the situation being under control on Thursday ferry operators anticipate heavier traffic on Friday which could lead to congestion at the terminal. Preparations underway at Paturia, Aricha ferry terminals as Eid nears Acknowledging the detour issue, Abdus Salam, AGM of BIWTC’s Aricha region, said ferry operations would not be significantly disrupted during Eid travel.  “To ensure a smooth and safe journey for passengers and vehicles, we have increased the number of ferries on the Paturia-Daulatdia route to 17.  Besides, a one-way traffic system has been implemented for about a kilometer at the terminal, with separate lanes for small and large vehicles,” he added. For security alongside regular police personnel, additional forces, including traffic police, Ansar members, and RAB, were deployed. Superintendent of Police Mushammat Yasmin Khatun said law enforcers are keeping a close watch to prevent criminal activities such as pickpocketing, muggings, and doping.  

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken several measures to ensure smooth and hassle-free travel for people heading home for Eid . In a public notice issued on Sunday it said the movement of trucks, covered vans, and lorries on highways will be banned from March 25 to March 28 and for three days after Eid. Abdullahpur to Dhour/Ashulia road will be made one-way and only outgoing vehicles will be allowed to move on the BRT lane. Besides, several roads will have controlled traffic from March 25 until the night before Eid. These include the Dhaka-Ashulia Highway, where only vehicles leaving Dhaka will be allowed to travel on the road from Abdullahpur in Uttara to Kamarpara via Dhour Bridge. Vehicles entering Dhaka from Ashulia-Dhour-Kamarpara-Abdullahpur will be redirected via Ashulia-Dhour-Panchabati and the Mirpur Bypass road to enter Gabtali or other areas, it said. Moreover, on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, both lanes of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project from Airport to Gazipur will be used for outgoing traffic only (one-way diversion), with all vehicles from Dhaka moving towards ‘Joydevpur Chaurasta’. No vehicles will be allowed to enter Dhaka via the BRT lane. BRTA, DMP launch drive to prevent movement of unfit buses during Eid Other lanes of the highway will operate normally. Vehicles entering Dhaka from the BRT lane will join the normal lanes with other vehicles. To facilitate smooth travel during the Eid journey, the following roads should be avoided by all vehicles except those with urgent needs: Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway (Airport to Abdullahpur) Dhaka-Chittagong Highway (Jatrabari to Signboard) Purbachal Expressway (300 Feet Road) Dhaka-Aricha Highway (Mirpur Road: Shyamoli to Gabtali) Dhaka-Keraniganj Road (Fulbari to Tatibazar to Babubazar Bridge) Dhaka-Mawa Highway (Jatrabari to Buriganga Bridge) Mohammadpur Basila Crossing to Basila Bridge Road Abdullahpur to Dhour Bridge Road DMP issues security guidelines in city during Eid This decision was made in a meeting held on March 9 at the Bidyut Bhaban, chaired by the adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railways.

With Bangladesh in the grip of the Eid rush, commuters heading home faced a harrowing time on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on Thursday. The stretch from Tongi to Chandona intersection of the high-speed corridor witnessed the maximum snarls due to the mad rush rush of vehicles carrying home-bound people ahead of the festival. On the highway across Gazipur district, this UNB correspondent witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic at Bhogra bypass point, Board Bazar, Tongi Bazar and Station Road. Traffic situation on the Dhaka-Tangail highway to Chandra Trimore was the same this morning -- gridlocks and tailbacks at different places of the high-speed corridor. Read: Govt rolls back Jhilmil Flyover project Passengers and motorists claimed it was taking them nearly four hours to reach the Gazipur intersection from the Mohakhali bus terminal. At some places, people had to waiting for hours to get a public transport. Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (Traffic), said that already steps have been taken to mitigate the sufferings of the home-bound people on the highways in Gazipur. "Extra policemen have been deployed to ensure the security of the commuters as well." Also read: RMG workers’ demo halt traffic on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for 5 hrs  

A 15- kilometre long tailback formed on the west side of Bangabandhu Bridge in Sirajganj as commuters headed home ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday. Massive traffic jams were witnessed from Bangabandhu Bridge Gorchatbar area to Nalka intersection as a truck broke down at Balukol area of Kamarkhand upazila, said Mosaddek Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bangabandhu Bridge West Police Station. Read: Roads better than ever, BNP lost their way: Obaidul Quader The quick response team of the police rushed to the spot and removed the broken truck and the traffic got normal in the afternoon, he added. The OC also mentioned that about 600 policemen are on duty to reduce traffic congestion on the district highways.

Call it the Eid travel rush at the Barishal ferry terminal, as hundreds of people have begun travelling to their hometowns to celebrate the festival. Some 23 ferries have been anchored at the Barishal terminal since Friday midnight as authorities have started special services for Eid holidays. On Thursday, each of these ferries carried 4,000 passengers from Dhaka to Barishal, according to the terminal authorities. Also read: Smoke in Barishal-bound launch creates panic among passengers According to the authorities, Rajarhat B was the first vessel to reach Barishal from the capital's Sadarghat around 1am, followed by Royal Cruise, Pubali 7, Farhan 7, Manami, Red Sun, Parbat 10, Prince Awlad 10, Kuakata 2, Sundarban 11 and Surovi 8.

Three flyovers from Joydebpur to Alenga to Hatikumrul will be opened for traffic on Monday to control the rush on the roads ahead of Eid, according to Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Md Nazrul Islam. “I went to inspect these in person yesterday. Opening these three flyovers will solve the traffic problem a lot,” he said. He also hoped that the homebound people will not suffer during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Also read: Eid holidaymakers likely to face tough journey on Dhaka-Paturia highway The secretary said this in a response to a question from reporters at the handing over ceremony of the first phase check of Dhaka Bypass Expressway under construction in a private-public partnership at the Secretariat on Sunday. Nowjor, Safipur and Gorai - these three flyovers are opening tomorrow, informed the secretary.

At least 242 people have lost their lives in 201 road accidents during Eid rushes while 331 others were injured.