Ferry services at Paturia Ferry Terminal have seen a huge pressure of mainly Dhaka-leaving vehicles and people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha but there is no such pressure on the other side -Daulatdia Ferry Terminal.
Vehicles are moving at a slower pace on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, costing holidaymakers double the time it usually takes for them to reach home.
Hundreds of buses were seen waiting for crossing the river on the road leading to Paturia Ferry Terminal around 12 noon, according to media reports.
A total of 18 ferries - down by two from what was earlier decided - are struggling to provide services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route due to huge pressure of people and vehicles, the reports said.
Manikganj police superintendent Rifat Rahman Shamim said they are working at many important points of the Dhaka-Aricha highway to keep the vehicles moving smoothly.
BIWTC Aricha office manager (commerce) Md Salah Uddin said ferries are taking much time to cross the Padma river due to strong currents.
On the fewer number of ferries, he said that whatever number of ferries there are now, the Eid journey will not be hampered providing that they ply regularly without any setback.
The picture on the other side of the river - Daulatdia Ferry Terminal - however is totally different with far fewer passengers and vehicles there.
Not much pressure of Dhaka-bound vehicles and people was witnessed at the Daulatdia ferry pier. According to the reports, most of the vehicles crossed the river from that side by 11:30am.
Some bus drivers said they are affording eight to nine trips each day from Daulatdia to districts in the south, while most vehicles are returning to Dhaka almost unfilled.
Dhaka witnesses an exodus of around five to six millions of people during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha each, every year, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
With Eid-ul-Azha just a few days away, people in droves started leaving the capital on Thursday to celebrate it with near and dear ones at their ancestral villages.
Being the last working day before this Eid, Thursday was chosen by most holidaymakers to start for home.
