Thousands of people are going home through Daulatdia Ghat, the gateway to 21 districts in the country's south-west region, to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on Saturday with their loved ones.
However, social distancing is absent from the scene.
At around 12 noon on Thursday, the Daulatdia launch and ferry ghats and the bus terminal area were crowded with homebound people. According to ​​the ghat authorities, the pressure of passengers will increase as time goes by.
Meanwhile, drivers and transport workers are not following the government’s instructions to keep social distancing and carry passengers maintaining the health regulations. They are also taking extra fare from the passengers.
Besides, ferries are taking longer than usual to cross the river due to the strong current of river Padma.
As a result, vehicles, mostly passenger buses, are caught in several kilometres long tailback at Daulatdia. However, trucks carrying sacrificial animals are being ferried on a priority basis.
Holidaymakers said that they paid much higher fare only to get on jam-packed buses.
When asked why they are heading home despite the risk of coronavirus infection, they said that they didn’t want to miss the chance to be with their near and dear ones.
Abu Abdullah Rony, manager of BIWTC Daulatdia Ghat branch, said the ferry crossings are taking more time due to the river current. For this reason, a long tailback has formed at the wharf.
Besides, the pressure of homebound people has been rising since morning, he added.
Currently, there are 15 ferries plying the Daulatdia-Paturia route.
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