The government has announced a nine-day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr from March 28 to April 5. It was expected that more people than usual would leave the capital to enjoy the long Eid break with their loved ones. However, the reality seems a bit different this time. Many people are not leaving Dhaka due to security concerns. According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, to ensure the overall security of the city as it empties out, several security layers are being put in place.

According to the National Committee to Protect Waterways, Roads, and Railways, nearly 17.5 million people are expected to leave the greater Dhaka area (including the capital, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and surrounding areas) for Eid. Around 60 percent of them will travel by road, while 40 percent will use waterways and railways. Based on these estimates, the number of road travelers could be around 10.4 million.

However, the actual situation is quite the opposite. Most of the bus terminals in Dhaka are seeing fewer passengers than usual. There are not many instances of passengers traveling without tickets, either inside the buses or on the rooftops, which is typically common during Eid. While passenger pressure on buses is low, the Kamalapur railway station has seen crowds of people heading home.

According to law enforcement, usually around 12 million people leave Dhaka in the four days leading up to Eid, with about 3 million people leaving every day. However, this year, that pressure is not visible. Additionally, there have not been many reports of vehicles operating without fitness certificates or older vehicles carrying extra passengers, as is often seen. Overall, this year, the number of travelers is significantly lower than usual. Both law enforcement and transport officials are saying the same thing: during previous Eid journeys, extra vehicles were needed to handle the overwhelming pressure, but this year, that need is not arising. The pressure of passengers is less than half compared to previous years. Some people might leave Dhaka in the last-minute rush, but that number is expected to be small.

At the bus counters in Shyamoli, Kallyanpur, and Mohakhali in Dhaka, there was no noticeable increase in passengers yesterday (March 28) morning and afternoon. No passengers reported complaints about extra charges either. Nasim, the manager of Shyamoli Paribahan’s counters in Kalyanpur, which serve areas like Bogura, Naogaon, and Rangpur in northern Bangladesh, said, “There’s no pressure of passengers this time. Except for a few places, the roads are in good condition. Buses are leaving on time. People have been leaving for the past few days, and most have already gone. This time, people are traveling without the usual crowd. There’s little chance of any rush ahead.”

At the Gabtoli bus terminal, we spoke to Abul Bashar, who is travelling to northern Bangladesh. He said he was heading to Rangpur with his two children and wife, but his wife and children would not be accompanying him due to security concerns. He explained, “With the current state of the country’s security system, leaving an empty house in Dhaka means I might return to nothing. That’s why I’m going alone. My elderly mother is unwell, and she’s been calling repeatedly, so I’m going to see her. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be leaving Dhaka in this security situation.”

Abul Bashar’s concerns were echoed by many others. Most people, unless absolutely necessary, are reluctant to leave Dhaka amid security fears. Mosharraf Hossain, a private sector employee, had come to the terminal to drop off his family. He shared, “I’ve sent my wife and children on the bus. I’ll stay in Dhaka. There’s a security issue across the city. There was a robbery next door. With this situation, it’s not safe to leave the house empty and travel outside Dhaka for Eid. Once the security situation improves, we’ll all go to the village for the next Eid.”

At the Mohakhali bus terminal, like Gabtoli, there was no usual crowd or long waiting times for buses. The only exception was at the United Paribahan counter, which has buses going to Mymensingh, where a small crowd was seen. However, since they had enough buses, passengers were quickly getting their tickets and boarding.

Several officials from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) mentioned that police patrols would be increased at night to prevent theft, snatching, and robbery during Eid. Security will be tightened at bus terminals, launch terminals, and railway stations. Police will also keep a close eye on the gold markets in Old Dhaka and other areas of the city. Sufficient police forces will be deployed to ensure security at entertainment centers.

DMP’s Additional Commissioner (Crime & Operations), SN Md Nazrul Islam, told Bonik Barta, “In addition to regular police stations, the Public Order Management (POM) police units, the specialized Armed Police Battalion (APBN), DMP’s Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC), and the Detective Branch (DB) will deploy a total of 15,000 officers to maintain law and order. The newly recruited Auxiliary Force will be responsible for security at shopping malls. During Eid, as fewer people move around the streets of Dhaka, police presence will increase in residential areas. Checkpoints will be set up at key locations to enhance security.”