The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) forecasts that around 15 million individuals are poised to exit the greater Dhaka area, including Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Gazipur, and Narayanganj city corporation areas, for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr celebration. An estimated 60% of these holidaymakers, roughly nine million people, will opt for road travel, while the rest will utilise waterways and railways. The projection, released in a press statement by NCPSRR on Monday, sheds light on the massive seasonal migration and its implications on transportation and safety. Despite admitting potential inaccuracies due to the lack of a comprehensive database, NCPSRR's general secretary, Ashis Kumar Dey, stated that the report was compiled from a variety of sources, including research data, civic groups, and transport sector organizations. Read more: Dhaka Metro Rail operations to continue past 9 pm from today The committee has voiced concerns over the possibility of increased public suffering and accidents on the roads, similar to previous years. Nevertheless, it acknowledged the government's significant efforts to facilitate smoother Eid travel for millions. Drawing from the latest census, the report details the population distribution within the Dhaka division, noting that about 75% of the country's garment factories are in Gazipur. Workers, who predominantly reside in the Gazipur region, contribute to the large-scale exodus during Eid. Additionally, significant populations in Narayanganj and adjacent districts add to the surge of travelers seeking to return to their native places for the Eid holiday. Read more: Seasoned journalists, experts stress vital role of media in creating awareness to make roads safe again The report highlights several challenges faced by travelers, including the inadequate capacity of the road transport sector to manage the massive flow of people within a week leading up to Eid. Issues such as the poor condition of long-distance roads, over 500 risky turning points nationwide, and the manual collection of tolls exacerbating traffic congestion are identified as major obstacles to smooth travel. Despite these hurdles, the NCPSRR remains optimistic that the implementation of government measures could alleviate some of the public's difficulties on the roads during this peak travel period. The focus now shifts to ensuring that these initiatives are carried out effectively to enhance the Eid travel experience for millions. Read more: Wheels of hazard: Motorcycle safety crisis unfolding on Bangladesh’s roads

Roads in Dhaka are wearing a deserted look as people have started to leave the capital to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones in their village homes. Some 20 lakh people are expected to leave Dhaka and surrounding areas by Thursday, said non-governmental organisation National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways.The number will increase further on Friday, it said.A huge number of people left the city from Tuesday afternoon as it was the last workday in government, semi-government and many private offices before the Eid-ul-Fitr..This year, the five-day Eid holiday started on Wednesday.According to the NCPSRR data, about 1.5 crore people from Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj visit their village homesevery year on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Of these, 20 percent will go using waterways and 20 percent by railways.Mohammad Shahid Mia, president of NCPSRR said around 30 lakh people will leave Dhaka by waterways in nine days before Eid from April 13 to April 21. Among these, three lakh people will go to different coastal districts through Sadarghat Terminal every day and the remaining three lakh Eid holiday makers will go through Narayanganj river port.Besides, the Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF) said, about 90 lakh people will leave Dhaka by road on Eid, which is 60 percent of the total Eidholiday makers.Meanwhile, about 30 lakh more people will go by train.Akhar Hussain, Assistant commissioner (traffic east) under traffic Uttara division said many people left Abdullahpur for Northern districts, Mymensingh Jamalpur, Sherpur and Netrokona districts Tuesday evening to midnight. Later, a large number of people left Abdullahpur for the same destinations from early Wednesday morning to 11:00 a.m. today Wednesday.However, the number of homebound people living Dhaka is relatively low now, it will increase in the evening, he said.Replying to a question the traffic police official said most of the buses left Abdullapur as per schedule .Assistant commissioner (Darus Salam zone) under Mirpur traffic division, Iftekharul Islam said rush of homebound people started early Wednesday and it continued till 8 am.He also said that most of the buses left Gabtoli for different destinations almost in time.Similarly sources at Saidabad bus stand said most of the buses left the terminal maintaining schedule for Chattogram and Sylhet road as well as other destinations.Similarly sources of the Kamalapur railway station said most of the trains left the station as per schedule from early morning.

The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways on Sunday demanded the government cancel a project aimed at reducing the width of the river Jamuna without any study. The organisation's president Mohammad Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey made the demand in a statement on Sunday. The leaders of the group said in the statement that the project proposal made by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to reduce the width of the Jamuna river to 6.5 kilometres  from 15 kilometres is “unscientific and absurd.” The statement said if such “an ill-fated project” is implemented on such a large river major natural disasters may occur in the near future. The National Committee also said in the statement that if the project is implemented without proper research, there will be no water flow in many places of the river and ground water level will drop in those areas. At the same time, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, livelihood and ecology may be affected.  The downstream environment of Jamuna and other structures including the Padma Bridge and the Jamuna Bridge may be adversely affected, it said.   It is noted that the Water Development Board has prepared a project proposal of Tk 1,110 crore to reduce the width of the Jamuna river.  The Ministry of Water Resources has already sent the proposed project titled 'Sustainable Infrastructure for Jamuna River Bank Protection and Risk Mitigation' to the Planning Commission.        

With less than two weeks left for Eid-ul-Fitr, rundown and faulty launches are being refurbished and repaired to sail on river routes across the country during the huge rush of holidaymakers, endangering hundreds of lives. At least 30 defective launches are getting a quick facelift with cosmetic repairs at various dockyards in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the city aiming to make a fast buck by carrying passengers of 22 southern districts during the Eid festival. Experts said the condition of most of the rivers before the Eid may become risky with the possibility of nor’westers, strong current and gusty winds due to the influence of new moon as the passenger launch accidents in the country’s inland waterways happen at this time mainly for overloading of passengers, faulty vessels, risky competition, mismanagement and lack of trained, skilled and competent crews. They said the government must take strict measures to check the operation of unfit and faulty vessels and overloading and ensure adequate fire safety and lifesaving equipment in each launch to avoid any untoward incident during the mad rush of passengers at launch terminals ahead of the Eid. Also read: Launch owners’ profit motive makes Eid journeys fraught with risk Meanwhile, National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) in a report on Tuesday last said the Sadarghat terminal will witness an unusual pressure as 40 lakh people from three districts--Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj--are likely to travel to the coastal districts by launches during this Eid occasion. It also said there are not enough vessels to carry so many one-way passengers in just 12 days, cautioning that the launches can carry passengers beyond their capacity on decks and roofs during the season of natural disasters like nor'westers and storms.  

The number of deaths in road crashes during the Eid holiday rush increased during the just concluded Eid ul Fitr, despite a ban on inter-district bus operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, two civic bodies said Tuesday. At least 249 people were killed and 385 others were injured in 207 road crashes over the 12 days till Monday, as people rushed to travel home and come back to Dhaka, according to a report jointly prepared by Green Club of Bangladesh (GCB) and National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways. The report covers the period between May 6 and May 17. The report also stated that among the deceased, 35 were women, 29 children, 23 pedestrians and 27 transport workers, including drivers.    Also read: Rab member, another killed in Gazipur road accident Both accidents and deaths increased during this Eid-ul Fitr's holidays from the last Eid-ul Azha, the report observed.

Though the number of launch capsizes has decreased, different type of vessels accident is taking place on inland waterways round the year and deaths of people continue, said a report of two non-government organisations on Saturday.

Speakers at a discussion meeting in the capital on Saturday said most government measures taken to protect rivers and strengthen the river transport sector are positive but slow in implementation.