A mass exodus of the homebound people from the capital has begun as it is the last workday of the government, semi-government and private offices before the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
Experts and officials assume that the city dwellers are set to rush towards their respective village homes on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones. However, they said that the hectic rush of home-goers will reach its peak on Friday and Saturday as one-fourth of the total holidaymakers to head for their native villages in the two days amid the worry of sufferings on the highways, train stations and launch and ferry terminals.
Meanwhile, some holidaymakers have already left the capital to avoid possible hassles while many have sent their families to village homes much ahead of the Eid vacation as the educational institutions remain closed.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated either on Sunday or Monday subject to the sighting of the moon.
In this regard, General Secretary of National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways Ashish Kumar Dey said that around 1.20 crore people are expected to leave Dhaka and its adjoining areas during this Eid. “Of them, 66 lakh will go home by road, 25 per cent by waterways and 24 lakh by trains.
Besides, he said the remaining 55 lakh people will leave Dhaka in between April 29 and May 1-2.
He also said that the pressure of home-goers on the road will much higher this time than in the past as the Covid-19 situation eased during this Eid occasion after two years.
