By Al Saadi Bhuiyan

DHAKA, Mar 21, 2025, (BSS) - The government and various service providers have taken initiatives to ensure safe and smooth journey of the home-bound passengers on the road marking the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

As part of move, the government has opened new bridges and roads ahead of the Eid.

The relevant institutions have taken various initiatives, including reducing traffic congestion, ensuring passenger safety, stopping excessive ticket prices and ticket black marketing.

Bangladesh Highway Police will work across the country to ensure that there is no disruption during this Eid journey. Members of Highway Police and various units of Bangladesh Police will be on patrol at 1,018 check posts and on 3,991 kilometers of highway, police officials told BSS. 

The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police is considering the Eid journey as the most important event of the year.

On the occasion of Eid, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is launching the 'Eid Special Service' from March 25. Advance ticket sales have started from BRTC depots from March 20 and Eid service buses will operate until April 5. BRTC has also provided the facility of bus reservation.

Meanwhile, private operators have added new buses to their fleet to ensure uninterrupted service to passengers. 

The leaders of Bus Owners Association said they will be on the ground alongside the police to take measures to prevent ticket sales at higher prices than the fixed ones, passenger harassment and bus schedule disruptions.

Meanwhile, the country's ticket selling company Shojhoz.com has launched a help center to immediately inform passengers if the bus schedule is disrupted for any reason.

Apart from AC and non-AC buses, sleeper and business class suite buses are becoming popular in Bangladesh. Although these buses previously served only on the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar route, this time they will be operating in the entire country.

AC sleeper and business class suite services will be provided on the Dhaka-North Bengal route, one of the longest highways. Burimari Express, Heritage Travels, Shanto Travels, Shah Ali Paribahan have added these luxurious buses to their fleets.

The country's long-distance public transport sector was largely dependent on the Japanese brand Hino. 

Currently, as their sole distributor in the country is unable to bring any new model to the market, bus owners have chosen Mercedes-Benz OF 1623 model as the best alternative to Hino buses. 

Due to this, passengers of non-AC buses in the country are choosing this brand of bus for long-distance journeys. 

Hanif Enterprise, the country's largest bus company, has also added this bus to its fleet this time.

In addition, buses serving various roads in the country are also trying to bring innovation to their fleet.

Sirajul Islam Riku, Managing Director of Hanif Paribahan, told BSS, "We are providing service on the previous routes this time. However, this time we have added 60 new buses on different routes. Out of which, 40 are high-quality Mercedes-Benz. We are not increasing the fare on any route on the occasion of Eid."

Popularity of online ticket sales has increased:

To avoid unnecessary crowding at the counters, save travel time and avoid excessive prices, the popularity of online tickets is increasing in Bangladesh.

Many online ticket sales organizations have emerged in Bangladesh. Among them, BD Tickets, Sahojyatri, Paribahan are notable.

Of those, Sahoj.com is providing bus, rail, and launch ticket services. Sahoj has set a target of selling 3 million tickets through its software online and at the counter.

The Tickets Director of Sahoj.com, a bus ticket management software operator and online ticket seller, told BSS, "We are getting a huge response this time. Passengers can book tickets for 120 bus operators through our website. In addition, many organizations are selling tickets at the counter using our software. In total, we expect to sell 3 million tickets this Eid. No operator is able to sell tickets at an excessive price through our software."

In addition, this time, real-time updates of buses and a help center have been launched to reduce the suffering of passengers.

Bus Owners' Association is now vigilant in protecting passenger services:

In the past years, during Eid, the Bus Owners' Association used to collect excess fares and ply unfit buses on the road in collusion with some unscrupulous businessmen.

This time, the Bus Owners' Association itself is vocal about it. The Bus Owners' Association has already met with the bus owners and agreed to stop collecting excess fares and not to ply unfit buses on the road.
 
They have informed the police to take appropriate action if unfit buses ply on the road. Saiful Islam, General Secretary of the Bus Owners' Association, has announced the establishment of a help desk for the Bus Owners' Association to stop harassment of passengers and prevent delays in bus schedules.

He told BSS that this time they are working to offer the passengers a safe and pleasant Eid journey.

"We will have a help desk for passengers at each of our terminals. The list of fixed fares will be hung in front of the counters. Law enforcement officers will be there to take action if passengers are harassed," he said.

"In addition, we have announced that police patrols will be increased in the terminal area to provide security to passengers in the morning and night," he added.

Police committed to security and smooth travel:

The Highways and Traffic Divisions of Bangladesh Police and Dhaka Metropolitan Police have made extensive preparations across the country to ensure smooth and safe Eid journeys.
 
District police will work on roads and highways to speed up their work across the country.

And the Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police will stop truck movement on the main roads of Dhaka to facilitate passenger transport during Eid.

To strengthen security on 3,991 kilometers of highways across the country, the Highway Police will operate 377 check posts and the District Police will operate 114 check posts and 527 patrol teams.

The Highway Police has identified 64 'black spots' across the country to ease traffic congestion.

Additional police personnel will work in these areas. The Highway Police has also said that it will work with local administrations in areas where traffic jams occur due to renovation work and markets.

In addition, the concerned authorities will operate mobile courts to ensure road safety and smooth traffic flow.

The Highway Police said that check posts across the country will be monitored from the center through live video.

DIGs of 8 police ranges will supervise these check posts. The police have already been able to arrest the accused in road robberies including in Elenga, Chittagong Highway, Mahipal and Noakhali.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Khondaker Nazmul Hasan told BSS, "We have taken various initiatives so that buses can leave Dhaka easily. We have taken measures so that there are no obstacles in entering and exiting Dhaka. To facilitate passenger transport, the movement of trucks and lorries will be banned on the roads for three days before Eid. If necessary, the movement of one-ton pickup trucks will also be stopped."

Bangladesh Highway Police Chief and Additional Director General of Police Md. Delwar Miah told BSS, "This Eid, we will work to ensure the safety of passengers. At the same time, we are working to resolve traffic congestion. We are strengthening security including patrols and check posts on highways across the country so that there is no security concern among passengers. We are optimistic about ensuring a beautiful Eid journey this time."