Home rush starts

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A woman was killed and her daughter and son injured yesterday in a two-launch collision in mid river near Sadarghat Launch Terminal as they were tying to board a launch, avoiding the terminal crowded with launches and thousands of Eid vacationers.

The three Bhola-bound passengers were sandwiched between the two launches at around 3:00pm as they were attempting to board one of the launches anchored in the middle of River Buriganga from a boat, said police and witnesses.

The dead was identified as Ozufa Begum, 40, from Narshingdi. The injured are her daughter Rashida, 20, and son Mian Shah, 16.

Staff members of the launch tried to conceal Ozufa Begum’s body after retrieving it from Char Mirerbagh area in South Keraniganj, but police later recovered it, alleged family members of the deceased.

Meanwhile, population in the bustling metropolis is expected to thin out in the next couple of days as thousands are expected to depart the capital to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their loved ones, braving the hassle and difficulties of finding a transportation home.

Launch, bus and railway terminals in Dhaka were seen crammed with Eid vacationers yesterday. Outbound launches, buses and trains were leaving the city being filled to capacity, with a number of passengers riding on the roofs.

As the Eid is to be celebrated on December 21, the mad rush for home is expected to escalate today and tomorrow.

Tickets of all modes of transport are reported to have been sold out, making many holidaymakers pay an exorbitant amount of money for their tickets.

Many people, especially garment workers, are still scouring for tickets with only a few days left until the Eid holidays kick off.

Bangladesh Railway (BR) officials said 23 intercity expresses, five mail trains and six trains leased out to private operators have a capacity of carrying around 20,000 passengers every day. Due to the high demand of Eid vacationers, the BR will sell 20,000 extra tickets this time.

The BR has also made special arrangements to add extra compartments to each intercity express trains and it will operate extra trains on various routes on the eve of Eid.

Kamal Hossain, convenor of (Dhaka Zone) Launch Owners’ Association, said the association has already doubled the number of launch trips.

On an average, 200 launches usually depart the city everyday on different routs, he said adding, “Now we will add around 25 more launches.”

Bus Owners Association leaders said a good number of people will be able to go home this holiday as many city service buses are also being operated on various intercity or inter-district routes to transport the holidaymakers.

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