Staff Reporter :
The home-bound people are leaving Dhaka for their village homes to celebrate the Eid-ul -Azha, one of the largest religious festivals of the Muslims, ignoring the fear of infection of the Covid-19 virus.
As overcrowding on buses, trains and launches is common scenario during the festive seasons, the government imposed restrictions during the last Eid-ul-Fitr held on May 25 by allowing only private cars to transport people in the long routes.
But this restriction has become case during the Eid-ul-Azha. The home-bound people this time will be allowed to go homes by all kinds of transportations. They have to maintain health guidelines to contain the coronavirus.
On an average, more than 50 lakh people leave Dhaka twice a year during the Eid holidays.
Apart from the pandemic, which has already forced thousands of families to leave the capital for their ancestral home due to job losses, people hailing from some 30 districts will mostly avoid the journey to heavy flood situation.
As the outward flow of people continues to pick up, health experts now fear that discipline in maintaining social distancing may not be possible during the days before Eid, which might cause a spike in Covid-19 infections in the country.
The government during the Eid-ul-Fitr allowed only private cars to transport people in the long routes. However, along with private cars, thousands of people rushed to ferries, motorcycles, and auto-rickshaws to reach home that reportedly caused a hike in coronavirus infections later in June. Meanwhile, the government has taken various measures to strictly control overcrowding of home-goers by trains, buses and launches.
In this regard, the Railway, Road Transport and Bridges and Shipping Ministries have individually taken some initiatives to tackle overcrowding and enforce heath guidelines. Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan has said, “We have decided to carry half of the capacity in trains. Those who have purchased tickets will be able to travel by train during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays this year.”
“To reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, no additional passengers will be allowed to journey by trains this time,” he said.
Railway authority took an initiative to sell all of its tickets online through their mobile app and website. The minister said this for timely initiative will help avoid huge crowds.
Every year, railways authority sells a limited number of tickets online while the rest of the tickets are sold at railway station/counters which usually draws huge crowd.
Meanwhile, homebound people to the southwestern region of the country are facing hassles, as authorities are failing to operate most ferries on Shimulia-Kathalbari route due to strong current in river Padma, which washed away a pontoon of Shimulia ferry terminal on Tuesday.
As a result, many are taking the alternative Paturia-Dauladia route, resulting in huge pressure of vehicles there and causing tailback of waiting vehicles.
Unlike other years, bus and launch operators did not sell advance tickets. The usual crowd at bus and launch terminals and railway stations ahead of the Eid is also missing this time, while fewer number of bus, launch and trains are leaving Dhaka.
Khondaker Enayet Ullah, Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, said the number of holidaymakers is much lower than other years, especially towards the greater Sylhet region.
The home-bound people are leaving Dhaka for their village homes to celebrate the Eid-ul -Azha, one of the largest religious festivals of the Muslims, ignoring the fear of infection of the Covid-19 virus.
As overcrowding on buses, trains and launches is common scenario during the festive seasons, the government imposed restrictions during the last Eid-ul-Fitr held on May 25 by allowing only private cars to transport people in the long routes.
But this restriction has become case during the Eid-ul-Azha. The home-bound people this time will be allowed to go homes by all kinds of transportations. They have to maintain health guidelines to contain the coronavirus.
On an average, more than 50 lakh people leave Dhaka twice a year during the Eid holidays.
Apart from the pandemic, which has already forced thousands of families to leave the capital for their ancestral home due to job losses, people hailing from some 30 districts will mostly avoid the journey to heavy flood situation.
As the outward flow of people continues to pick up, health experts now fear that discipline in maintaining social distancing may not be possible during the days before Eid, which might cause a spike in Covid-19 infections in the country.
The government during the Eid-ul-Fitr allowed only private cars to transport people in the long routes. However, along with private cars, thousands of people rushed to ferries, motorcycles, and auto-rickshaws to reach home that reportedly caused a hike in coronavirus infections later in June. Meanwhile, the government has taken various measures to strictly control overcrowding of home-goers by trains, buses and launches.
In this regard, the Railway, Road Transport and Bridges and Shipping Ministries have individually taken some initiatives to tackle overcrowding and enforce heath guidelines. Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan has said, “We have decided to carry half of the capacity in trains. Those who have purchased tickets will be able to travel by train during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays this year.”
“To reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, no additional passengers will be allowed to journey by trains this time,” he said.
Railway authority took an initiative to sell all of its tickets online through their mobile app and website. The minister said this for timely initiative will help avoid huge crowds.
Every year, railways authority sells a limited number of tickets online while the rest of the tickets are sold at railway station/counters which usually draws huge crowd.
Meanwhile, homebound people to the southwestern region of the country are facing hassles, as authorities are failing to operate most ferries on Shimulia-Kathalbari route due to strong current in river Padma, which washed away a pontoon of Shimulia ferry terminal on Tuesday.
As a result, many are taking the alternative Paturia-Dauladia route, resulting in huge pressure of vehicles there and causing tailback of waiting vehicles.
Unlike other years, bus and launch operators did not sell advance tickets. The usual crowd at bus and launch terminals and railway stations ahead of the Eid is also missing this time, while fewer number of bus, launch and trains are leaving Dhaka.
Khondaker Enayet Ullah, Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, said the number of holidaymakers is much lower than other years, especially towards the greater Sylhet region.