THE way Eid-time passengers suffer on roads, railway and waterways speaks volume of the lack of seriousness of relevant government agencies about making travel safe and smooth. People leaving the capital city for outlying areas are reported to be facing disruptions in ferry services in their travel southwards and in train services in their travel northwards. The movement of all ferries, launches and speedboats on the Shimulia-Kathalbari river route in Munshiganj remained closed for Wednesday because of strong current in the River Padma. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation announced the stopping of the movement of all ferries, launches and speedboats on the route, creating a long tailback of vehicles on the both ends of the river route.

On the first day of the special Eid-time train, passengers suffered almost all day long on different routes as some trains ran behind schedule. Many people rushed to the Kamalapur railway station only to find that some trains were running behind schedule. The Nilsagar Express on the Dhaka–Nilphamari route left Kamalapur station at 9:00am, which was supposed to leave at 8:25am. The Rangpur Express started from the station about 10:00am, which was scheduled to leave at 9:00am. Because of recent floods, rainfall, low-quality repair works and the ongoing construction works at many places, highways, roads and bridges and railways have become risky in many areas, which are causing disruption in travels and creating congestion. The road transport and bridges minister’s statement on Monday that all rundown roads would be repaired three days before Eid to ensure a smooth and safe journey for travellers sounds hollow as the reality suggests otherwise. It has unfortunately become commonplace for the past few years that despite dilapidated roads and highways hogging the headlines almost round the year and even many fatal traffic accidents taking place because of this, the authorities wake up from their deep slumber to repair them only before every Eid. Hasty repair works are also done spending a huge amount of public money compromising with the quality. Any crash programme now, however, could hardly improve the situation with only three days remaining before Eid-ul-Azha and people seem to be doomed to suffer this time as well.

While the government must put in more efforts to make Eid-time travel as smooth as possible as for the three days before the festival as much after the festival when people will get back to the capital city. The government must also take a lesson from the sufferings of travellers and resolve to formulate and execute short- and long-term plans to afford travellers some relief in future.