Feature: Bangladesh's huge exodus from cities to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-23 23:26:32|Editor: yan
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by Naim-Ul-Karim

DHAKA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Bangladeshis, braving every conceivable discomfort on creaky and congested transport, are flocking to village homes to celebrate Islam's biggest festival Eid-ul Fitr, the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The Muslim majority Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul Fitr, the holiest and biggest religious festival among the world's Muslims, on or around June 26 or 27 based on the sighting of the new moon.

The hustling and bustling Dhaka is now showing signs of tranquility in the coming days as people, with or even without seat-ensuring tickets, are gathering at the city's ferry terminals, railway and bus stations to join relatives in their village homes.

On Friday morning, many were seen even trying to climb up a train's roof at Dhaka's central Kamalapur Railway Station to reach their village homes.

Also home-goers were seen to climb on the roof of ferries which have already been packed with passengers at the city's Sadarghat terminal.

Like previous years, sufferings of home-goers also worsened with long tailbacks on all highways connecting capital Dhaka and seaport city southeastern Chittagong because of a heavy rush of outbound buses and shortage of ferries.

Despite difficulties, homegoers more specially children are found in very happy mode at stations in Dhaka.

Class five student Kulsum with her family members is going to her village home in Jamalpur district in northern Bangladesh.

"I bought new clothes, shoes and many more things for Eid. Very happy to get the opportunity to visit grandfather's house in Jamapur."

"There are my grandmothers, uncles, cousins, siblings and many other relatives," she said. "Going to celebrate Eid with all of them will be lots fun and amusement."

Another little kid Shammy is also excited as she goes to village home.

"Mom bought a new shirt and a pair of new shoes for me. She also bought clothes for relatives. We hope to have a lot of fun in home," said Shammy while waiting at a station in Dhaka.

Like many others, Sharif is also going to his village home in northwestern Bogra district to celebrate Eid.

" My train was scheduled at 9 a.m. in the morning. After a long wait, finally I see the train is coming. I can go home. I will be happy to celebrate Eid with everyone in home."

State-owned transport bodies have started special Eid services to ply on different inter-district routes in addition to the regular services to meet the demand of the home-bound city dwellers.

To make the travel of the home-bound passengers easy, officials said additional forces have been deployed in Dhaka streets.

Both the government and the media are keeping close watch on the ferries during this holiday season.

Authorities said they had strictly enforced control on the overloading of ferries, which were identified as a main reason for many deadly crashes during the previous Eid occasions.

On Friday, photographs of several ferries, trains and buses were published in newspapers, showing lots of people clinging on the bodies of the ferries and trains risking their lives.

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