Although the number of passengers bound for Barishal division has reduced after the Padma Bridge was opened to public, Dhaka's Sadarghat launch terminal will face unusual pressure of homebound people during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
Around 30 lakh people from Dhaka and surrounding districts will leave for the coastal districts on waterways.
Among them, at least 27 lakh will pass through Sadarghat launch terminal with 3 lakh people using the terminal on average daily over nine days, according to a report of the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways.
The committee's president Mohammad Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey today published the summary of the report through a press release.
The national committee has recommended that the government increase the number of vessels to handle the pressure of additional passengers and ensure hassle-free and safe Eid journey.
The report said that about 1.5 crore people leave Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj during Eid-ul-Fitr each year.
Among them, 37.5 lakh (25 percent) travel on waterways. Almost all of these passengers are from the coastal districts of Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chandpur, Shariatpur and Madaripur, it said.
The civic organisation said after the Padma Bridge opened last June, the rate of waterway passengers of coastal districts, excluding Chandpur, has decreased by about 20 percent; which is 5 percent of the total Eid holidaymakers.
As a result, 30 lakh people (20 percent of the total passengers) will go by launch during this Eid and at least 27 lakh will go through the Dhaka river port.
According to the report, the rush of home-bound people will start from April 13, the last working day of the previous week. All waterway passengers from greater Dhaka region will go home from April 13 to 21 (the day before Eid).
As a result, 3 lakh people will pass through Sadarghat terminal every day and the remaining passengers will use Narayanganj river port.
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