Although Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated on Saturday, many people who spent the holiday in the capital were seen leaving Dhaka today (June 10) to reunite with their families in village homes.
Scenes from major bus terminals, including Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Kalyanpur on Tuesday, revealed that those unable to travel before Eid, due to work commitments or financial constraints, are now making their journey home.
“I couldn’t get leave during Eid. My office remained open, so I stayed in Dhaka,” said Bellal Hossain, an employee of a private company, who secured a seat on a bus to his hometown on Tuesday. “Thankfully, the fare is back to normal and not inflated like during Eid.”
Abu Jar, who works as a building manager in Banani, shared a similar story. “I had to be on duty during the holiday. Now that I’ve received my overtime pay and Eid bonus, I’m heading home. But the joy won’t be the same as spending Eid day with family.”
Transport officials confirmed the trend of post-Eid travel with fewer passengers but steady vehicle deployment.
“Passenger numbers are low now, so we’re charging the regular fares,” said Ujjwal, counter master at Hanif Paribahan. During Eid, buses were packed leaving Dhaka and returned mostly empty, he said, adding now the reverse is happening—more people are coming back to Dhaka than leaving.
Russell, a counter master at Shyamoli Paribahan, which operates routes to Kushtia, Chuadanga, and Meherpur, said nearly a quarter of the seats on their coaches are going empty. “We’re charging the standard Tk 650 fare. If a passenger can’t afford the full amount, we’re offering some flexibility to ensure they can travel.”
At Gabtoli, Ainal Haque Asif of Sohag Paribahan reported that nearly half of their seats on Khulna-bound buses remain vacant. “We’re still charging Tk 650, but the reduced demand means we’re focused more on ensuring smooth operations than profit.”
Despite the late departures, many of the passengers expressed satisfaction at finally being able to visit family, though most agreed that the festive spirit isn’t quite the same after Eid has passed.
SMS/
