Govt doing its best to ensure hassle-free Eid journey, says minister

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said the government is working at full capacity to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for people travelling home for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

He said 124 metre-gauge and 14 broad-gauge rail coaches have been added to different intercity trains to accommodate more passengers.

In addition to regular services, Bangladesh Railways will operate five pairs of special trains for Eid, the minister said after visiting Kamalapur Railway Station ahead of the festival.

He said steps have also been taken to carry the maximum number of passengers by road and waterways.

Despite heavy demand for online ticket sales, the minister said passengers were able to secure tickets and preparations have been strengthened to ensure smooth travel by train and other modes of transport.

Rabiul Alam said advance online train ticket sales began on March 3. Around 3.7 million people attempted to buy tickets online, but due to railway capacity, only about 36,000 tickets could be sold.

He explained that after booking a ticket, passengers are given five to 15 minutes to complete payment, which caused some users to wait until the settlement of previously reserved tickets.

However, he said the process was conducted fairly and those who managed to secure tickets were able to complete their purchases.

The minister said on the first day of the Eid travel period, 21 trains departed for their destinations and most were running on schedule. Only two trains left around 40 minutes late due to an accident.

Passengers expressed satisfaction with the services, though some voiced concerns about whether the current level of service would continue, he said.

Responding to the concern, the minister said the government is committed to maintaining the current quality of rail services and further improving them in the future.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to modernise rail communication and make it more people-friendly so passengers can travel long distances comfortably in less time.

To achieve this goal, the government is working to bring major reforms to the railway communication system, he added.

The minister also urged passengers not to travel on train roofs, saying strict measures are being taken to prevent the practice.

Highlighting the scale of the Eid travel rush, he said about 12.5 to 15 million people leave Dhaka within just two to three days, creating a significant challenge for authorities.

To address this, the government plans to increase transport capacity by adding new train coaches, buses and boats, while also working to bring greater discipline to bus management.

In the current situation, he said there is no possibility of fuel price hikes, and therefore public transport fares should not increase.

Regarding train operations, he said at least 85 to 87 metre-gauge locomotives are required to avoid major disruptions. Currently, 78 locomotives are in operation and the situation will improve if a few more are added in the coming days.

On security, the minister said railway police, regular police, highway police, naval police and other law enforcement agencies are working together to ensure safe travel for passengers.

Ansar members and volunteers wearing special jackets have also been deployed to maintain order.

State Minister for Railways and Road Transport Habibur Rashid, Railways Secretary Md Fahimul Islam, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammed Ziaul Haque, Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain and other senior officials were present during the visit.