Millions of Bangladeshis in mad dash for village homes

But home-goers hoping to celebrate the Hindu festival of Durga Puja or the Muslim festival Eid-ul-Azha with their families at home are hounded by traffic congestions, exorbitant fares and long waits at the terminals.

The holidays will begin on Saturday, but with a weekend in the middle, Thursday was the last day of work, people began leaving the capital.

People were seen waiting for buses in front of bus counters in Gabtoli, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli and Mohakhali. The crowds grew in the afternoon.

Railway tickets were sold ahead, so the counters at Kamalapur Railway Station were less stressed but for the people trying to get "standing tickets".

Rail officials said trains were leaving on schedule. Scores of passengers climbed on to the roofs of trains.

The Sadarghat launch terminal began getting crowded in the afternoon. More than a hundred vessels were taking passengers to 40 water routes in the south, but tickets were already sold out. Passengers complained that vessels were charging extra fare.

Eid travels were tolerable in Eid-ul-Fitr, but the heavy rains at the end of September have damaged most highways including Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways. For the last three days traffic has been slow towards north and southeast.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, however, says unfit trucks carrying cattle to the capital are to blame for the congestion.

Still, traffic has been comfortable at Mawa and Paturia ferry terminals, relieving the suffering of commuters to the south.