N Online:
Bus tickets for Eid-ul-Azha travel have been snapped up within minutes of going on sale, with demand far exceeding supply, according to transport operators.
This year, travellers face a limited two-day window—June 4 and 5—for pre-Eid departures, pushing ticket demand to new heights. Most passengers are aiming to leave on these dates, with night coach tickets selling out almost instantly both online and at ticket counters on Friday. Only a few seats on daytime buses for June 4 remained available.
Eid-ul-Azha is expected to be celebrated in Bangladesh on June 8, depending on the moon sighting.
As in previous years, Eid fares have surged. Non-AC tickets have increased by Tk 150-250, while AC fares in some cases have doubled compared to regular rates.
At 9am, the main counter of Hanif Enterprise at Gabtoli Balurmath was relatively quiet. Four staff members manned the Eid advance ticket booth, informing hopeful travellers that tickets for June 4 and 5 were already sold out.
Haji Mazharul Haque of Hanif Enterprise said, “We only have two days for Eid departures. Everyone wants to leave on the night of June 4. Sales began at 6:30am and most tickets are already gone. Demand is overwhelming.”
The situation was more chaotic at Hanif’s Shyamoli counter, where large crowds gathered. Non-AC tickets were already sold out, and passengers were vying for the remaining AC options.
“I’ve tried both Hanif and Shyamoli counters—no night tickets left for June 4,” said Ayon Islam, a traveller heading to Ranirbandar in Dinajpur. “I was offered daytime tickets at Panchagarh fares. I heard sleeper AC buses still have seats, but I didn’t take those.”
At the Shyamoli Ring Road counter, manager Biplob Hossain confirmed the high demand: “We’ve sold tickets both in person and online. Now, only a few sleeper AC tickets remain.”
