Dhaka’s Kamalapur Station overflows with homebound travellers on 2nd day of Eid break

Passengers are rushing on board as soon as trains reach platform as even standing room is hard to come by on certain carriages

A massive crowd has gathered at Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station on the second day of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays as people look to make their way home for the extended break.

On Wednesday morning, trains have been departing Dhaka for different parts of the country at their specified time, with many passengers on each carriage.

Despite having tickets in hand, many people, worried about the size of the crowd, rushed to occupy their seats as soon as trains rolled into the platforms. Nearly every train saw passengers packed in close, or with only standing room. Some passengers were seen climbing on the roofs of the trains because they could not find space inside. Almost every train set off with excess passengers.

While the intercity Burimari Express, bound for Lalmonirhat, was supposed to leave at 8:30am, mason Sohel Rana was on the platform holding a standing ticket at 7:45am.

He is headed from Dhaka’s Nawabganj to Lalmonirhat to celebrate Eid with his family.

He said, "As soon as I checked online, I saw that the tickets were sold out. I came to the station and bought a ticket, but there is no standing room inside. I will get home, even if I am forced to travel on top of the train."

Garment worker Minhajul Islam was also riding on the roof of the same train. He said, "There is no room inside, that is why I am taking the risk and have come up here. I have no other option if I want to go home."

Mohammad Alam, the owner of a tea stall in Narayanganj’s Rupganj, was relieved that he had ran to secure his seat alongside his wife.

The two are on their way to Patgram.

Alam said, "It is so crowded, it is difficult to get inside. Who knows who will sit where, and there will be problems, so I ran for it and sat down quick. The train came early. It will leave in a little over half an hour. I managed to get my seat, so I am relieved."

Shikha Begum, a garment factory worker who has come from her workplace in Narayanganj to Dhaka, has been waiting on the platform for about an hour alongside her younger sister for the Eid special train.

She said, "I arrived early as I came from a long way away. I heard that the train will arrive on time, so I am sitting and waiting, but I am tense about whether I will be able to board with so many people around."

A total of 45 intercity trains, including two Eid special trains, and 21 local and mail trains will depart on the second day of the Eid holidays, said Mohammad Aminul Haque, assistant commercial officer of Kamalapur Station.

Regarding passengers travelling on the roof, he told bdnews24.com: "The railway police are trying to prevent anyone from getting on the roof."

From the morning to 8:30am, all 12 scheduled trains had left Kamalapur on time, he said.

"So far, all trains have left on time. All passengers are being allowed on the platform after their tickets are checked. Today, the rush of passengers is a little higher than in the past few days."

Meanwhile, additional measures have been taken to maintain security and order at the entrance to the station.

Ticket checking is being done at two levels, at the entrance to Kamalapur Railway Station and at the platform.

No one is being allowed to enter the station without a ticket.

Law-enforcing agencies have set up booths at the entrance of the station to maintain order.