Eid revellers spend sleepless nights at Kamalapur station

Hundreds of people have spent sleepless nights at the Kamalapur Railway Station to avail a ticket for their desired destinations ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The station started selling advance tickets since Monday morning for Eid-ul-Azha slated to be celebrated in Bangladesh on Sep 12 or 13, upon moon sighting.

On the second day of the sale on Tuesday, a mad rush sprawled at the counters where the queues spread up to the main road outside the station.

Many reached the station as early as Monday afternoon to avail a ticket for Sep 8.

Abu Taleb Limon, a student of Criminology at the University of Dhaka, shared how he enjoyed his night out at the station. Reaching the station around 8pm on Monday, Limon had a good time with his friends.

“I passed the night playing board and card games. I came here as I did not get any ticket for bus this time,” he said.

After 18 hours of wait, Ainuddin, a resident of Moghbazar area got a ticket to his hometown Brahmanbarhia.

“I took this trouble only to ensure me and my family enjoy the Eid together at my village. Now I have no regret,” said Ainuddin.

Md Aslam Hawlader, an employee of a residential hotel in Dhaka, came to the station at 11pm on Monday and got his ticket to Chittagong at 8:30am on Tuesday.

Aslam was vexed at the suffering one has to incur for availing a ticket.

College student Hridoy came to the station as early as 2pm on Monday with three friends. Getting his ticket in the morning on Tuesday he said: “It is really painstaking to spend a whole night standing. But now I am happy because I will be able to celebrate Eid with my parents.”

Advance tickets for Sep 8, 9, 10 and 11 will be sold on Aug 30, 31, Sep 1 and 2, respectively. The sale will begin from 8am every day.

Advance return tickets for Sep 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 will be available on Sep 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively.