Hundreds of thousands of passengers heading homeward cram Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the capital on Sunday. Mehedi Hasan
Hundreds of thousands of passengers heading homeward cram Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the capital on Sunday. Mehedi Hasan
Defying heavy hassles and hazards, people by their thousands have started leaving the capital for their roots--their native homes—to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with a sense of uncertainty over safe return in time as Jamaat has called a 48-hour hartal for August 12-13 which could plunge the spontaneous joy of the greatest festival into the mire of disappointment.
While the official holiday for Eid begins Thursday, many people have already left the city and many more are leaving. Although joyous and unavoidable, the Eid journey every year is seriously troublesome and hazardous. But it is more so this year because of extreme trouble in arranging tickets of buses, launches and trains and now the feared violence and disruption during the post-Eid hartal.
Perhaps, never in the past Eid journey was so much difficult as it is this year. The tickets of buses, launches and trains for Eid travel seemed precious ‘golden deer’ and elusive this year with thousands struggling for getting those to leave the city to celebrate the greatest religious festival with dear ones. According to press reports, those who could arrange tickets and started leaving Dhaka are now worried as to how to come back in time as communications will be disrupted due to hartal on August 12-13.
In view of such uncertainty and a sense of panic, thousands of prospective homebound people, despite having been able to obtain tickets, are returning those by changing their decision to go home for Eid.
The home-goers, in fear of outbreaks of violence during the hartal, are returning their tickets taken in advance through strenuous efforts.
Mirza Shamim, a teacher of Rampura, said, “I am not going to spend my Eid holiday with near and dear ones as I apprehend Shibir attack on my way home to Bogra.”
He said he would rather go to village home sometime after the Eid vacation.
There is no rush of passenger on the road as many families left for village home some days ago due to closure of schools and colleges of their children.
Transport owners and workers are disappointed due to return of tickets. They are holding strike called by Jamaat responsible for the setback. They claimed the hartal has caused serious damage to their business.
Staff members in Gabtoli bus terminal said the passengers are returning their advance tickets they procured to come back to Dhaka on August 12-13.
Abdul Hamid, a staffer of Sakura Paribahan, said, “The passengers are returning tickets. We have taken back half of the tickets the passengers bought for making journey on August 6, 7 and 8.”
He said he could not supply adequate ticket last year but 10/12 tickets of every bus scheduled for journey till August 6 this year remained unsold.
Hanif Paribahan manager Ashim said there is no pressure of passenger this year. He said many people are returning their tickets. “We will not get original fare, let alone extra money from the passengers. The Eid will not be euphoric this year,” he said.
Eagle Paribahan manager Ismail said the passengers are returning their tickets as they decided not to go home. The passengers changed their decision on the plea that their children will not be able to sit for examination if hartal is extended and they cannot return to the capital timely.
He said, “Our buses are bound for Jessore and Barisal. As tickets are returned, there are not adequate passengers.”
All counter managers of the busses bound for North Bengal districts made the similar statement.
As Oabaidul Haque, a banker who went to return ticket, said, “I sent wife and children to village home soon after the schools had been closed. I cancelled my journey scheduled for August 7 due to fear of hartal.”
Aminul Islam Simul, an official of the information ministry, said the government office will remain closed for three days on the occasion Eid. “As the hartal may be extended, I have cancelled my journey.”
Around 200 counters cast a deserted look ahead of the Eid for lack of expected number of passengers. Although businessmen and other people are returning home, most of the service-holders are cancelling their journey. The rest are going home amid panic and uncertainty.
Though a huge demand for withdrawal of the Jamaat-called two-day countrywide strike from August 12 continues to get louder, the beleaguered Islamist party still stuck to their guns as their registration is being impounded.
Meanwhile, leaders of the ruling and other parties, business community and transport associations have called upon Jamaat to call off their countrywide strike. But, all their calls are going unheeded.
Now, different quarters, especially holidaymakers, are talking about the shutdown as hundreds of people will be unable to go back to their destinations just after the three-day Eid vacation.
Recently, the Jamaat-called strike has become the talk of the country as many holidaymakers — especially officials and employees — will not be able to attend their offices in time.
Jamaat-e-Islami has called the countrywide strike for August 12 and 13 against the verdict of the High Court that declared illegal its registration, sending people into trouble.
The people of different strata said the hartal has created trouble and panic among people — especially home-goers — as they are worried over their timely return to their destinations.
Many panic-stricken people have already cancelled their plans to celebrate the religious festival with their near and dear ones, and are found flocking to the bus counters to give back their tickets.
In this situation, transport owners and leaders of business community are too much concerned over their business during the festival. They urged Jamaat to withdraw the hartal.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Sunday called on Jamaat to withdraw its hartal for the sake of the country’s economy and safe return of holidaymakers.
“We are requesting Jamaat-e-Islami to call off their August 12 and 13 hartal for the sake of the country’s economic progress and greater interest of the countrymen,” said a statement.
The FBCCI, the apex business body of the country, further said that the hartal will disrupt people’s movement, hamper commercial activities and halt export and import.
“Country’s business community is deeply concerned over the hartal,” it reads.
State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam Saturday urged Jamaat to call off their strike to relieve people of untold sufferings on return journey.
The strike was called to increase pubic sufferings during the Eid festival, the ruling Awami League leader said.
Meanwhile, Gabtali Bus-Truck Owners Association treasurer Kamal Hossain said many people are giving back their advanced tickets because of the hartal.
“People will be deprived of Eid celebrations due to the hartal just after the festival,” he said, adding: “We have requested Jamaat to withdraw their hartal.”
Transport owners and officials are worried about their earnings in the coming Eid festival as a large number of passengers are returning their advanced tickets, Banglanews24.com reports.
Mohammad Liton, manager of Sakura Paribahan, said many people are giving back their bus tickets due to the hartal.
Hanif Paribahan Manager Ismail Hossen said many people’s hope for celebrating the Eid festival has been shattered due to the strike.
FBCCI urges Jamaat to withdraw hartal
Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Sunday called upon Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to withdraw its earlier- announced 48-hour countrywide shutdown on August 12-13 for the sake of the economy and people’s safe return to their workplaces after Eid.
The apex trade body, in a statement, said people expect that they will celebrate the Eid with festivity after a month-long fasting but the 48-hour non-stop hartal creates panic among people as they will have to return after Eid vacation.
“Hartal-like programmes will make the movement of people uncertain, disrupt commercial and academic activities and affect public life,” it said.
The FBCCI noted that domestic and foreign investment is being hindered because of disruptive political programmes like hartal.
The apex trade body also urged the political parties concerned to shun the path of conflict and violence, and adopt the policy of discussion for resolving all political problems.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers heading homeward cram Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the capital on Sunday. Mehedi Hasan
Defying heavy hassles and hazards, people by their thousands have started leaving the capital for their roots--their native homes—to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with a sense of uncertainty over safe return in time as Jamaat has called a 48-hour hartal for August 12-13 which could plunge the spontaneous joy of the greatest festival into the mire of disappointment.
While the official holiday for Eid begins Thursday, many people have already left the city and many more are leaving. Although joyous and unavoidable, the Eid journey every year is seriously troublesome and hazardous. But it is more so this year because of extreme trouble in arranging tickets of buses, launches and trains and now the feared violence and disruption during the post-Eid hartal.
Perhaps, never in the past Eid journey was so much difficult as it is this year. The tickets of buses, launches and trains for Eid travel seemed precious ‘golden deer’ and elusive this year with thousands struggling for getting those to leave the city to celebrate the greatest religious festival with dear ones. According to press reports, those who could arrange tickets and started leaving Dhaka are now worried as to how to come back in time as communications will be disrupted due to hartal on August 12-13.
In view of such uncertainty and a sense of panic, thousands of prospective homebound people, despite having been able to obtain tickets, are returning those by changing their decision to go home for Eid.
The home-goers, in fear of outbreaks of violence during the hartal, are returning their tickets taken in advance through strenuous efforts.
Mirza Shamim, a teacher of Rampura, said, “I am not going to spend my Eid holiday with near and dear ones as I apprehend Shibir attack on my way home to Bogra.”
He said he would rather go to village home sometime after the Eid vacation.
There is no rush of passenger on the road as many families left for village home some days ago due to closure of schools and colleges of their children.
Transport owners and workers are disappointed due to return of tickets. They are holding strike called by Jamaat responsible for the setback. They claimed the hartal has caused serious damage to their business.
Staff members in Gabtoli bus terminal said the passengers are returning their advance tickets they procured to come back to Dhaka on August 12-13.
Abdul Hamid, a staffer of Sakura Paribahan, said, “The passengers are returning tickets. We have taken back half of the tickets the passengers bought for making journey on August 6, 7 and 8.”
He said he could not supply adequate ticket last year but 10/12 tickets of every bus scheduled for journey till August 6 this year remained unsold.
Hanif Paribahan manager Ashim said there is no pressure of passenger this year. He said many people are returning their tickets. “We will not get original fare, let alone extra money from the passengers. The Eid will not be euphoric this year,” he said.
Eagle Paribahan manager Ismail said the passengers are returning their tickets as they decided not to go home. The passengers changed their decision on the plea that their children will not be able to sit for examination if hartal is extended and they cannot return to the capital timely.
He said, “Our buses are bound for Jessore and Barisal. As tickets are returned, there are not adequate passengers.”
All counter managers of the busses bound for North Bengal districts made the similar statement.
As Oabaidul Haque, a banker who went to return ticket, said, “I sent wife and children to village home soon after the schools had been closed. I cancelled my journey scheduled for August 7 due to fear of hartal.”
Aminul Islam Simul, an official of the information ministry, said the government office will remain closed for three days on the occasion Eid. “As the hartal may be extended, I have cancelled my journey.”
Around 200 counters cast a deserted look ahead of the Eid for lack of expected number of passengers. Although businessmen and other people are returning home, most of the service-holders are cancelling their journey. The rest are going home amid panic and uncertainty.
Though a huge demand for withdrawal of the Jamaat-called two-day countrywide strike from August 12 continues to get louder, the beleaguered Islamist party still stuck to their guns as their registration is being impounded.
Meanwhile, leaders of the ruling and other parties, business community and transport associations have called upon Jamaat to call off their countrywide strike. But, all their calls are going unheeded.
Now, different quarters, especially holidaymakers, are talking about the shutdown as hundreds of people will be unable to go back to their destinations just after the three-day Eid vacation.
Recently, the Jamaat-called strike has become the talk of the country as many holidaymakers — especially officials and employees — will not be able to attend their offices in time.
Jamaat-e-Islami has called the countrywide strike for August 12 and 13 against the verdict of the High Court that declared illegal its registration, sending people into trouble.
The people of different strata said the hartal has created trouble and panic among people — especially home-goers — as they are worried over their timely return to their destinations.
Many panic-stricken people have already cancelled their plans to celebrate the religious festival with their near and dear ones, and are found flocking to the bus counters to give back their tickets.
In this situation, transport owners and leaders of business community are too much concerned over their business during the festival. They urged Jamaat to withdraw the hartal.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Sunday called on Jamaat to withdraw its hartal for the sake of the country’s economy and safe return of holidaymakers.
“We are requesting Jamaat-e-Islami to call off their August 12 and 13 hartal for the sake of the country’s economic progress and greater interest of the countrymen,” said a statement.
The FBCCI, the apex business body of the country, further said that the hartal will disrupt people’s movement, hamper commercial activities and halt export and import.
“Country’s business community is deeply concerned over the hartal,” it reads.
State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam Saturday urged Jamaat to call off their strike to relieve people of untold sufferings on return journey.
The strike was called to increase pubic sufferings during the Eid festival, the ruling Awami League leader said.
Meanwhile, Gabtali Bus-Truck Owners Association treasurer Kamal Hossain said many people are giving back their advanced tickets because of the hartal.
“People will be deprived of Eid celebrations due to the hartal just after the festival,” he said, adding: “We have requested Jamaat to withdraw their hartal.”
Transport owners and officials are worried about their earnings in the coming Eid festival as a large number of passengers are returning their advanced tickets, Banglanews24.com reports.
Mohammad Liton, manager of Sakura Paribahan, said many people are giving back their bus tickets due to the hartal.
Hanif Paribahan Manager Ismail Hossen said many people’s hope for celebrating the Eid festival has been shattered due to the strike.
FBCCI urges Jamaat to withdraw hartal
Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Sunday called upon Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to withdraw its earlier- announced 48-hour countrywide shutdown on August 12-13 for the sake of the economy and people’s safe return to their workplaces after Eid.
The apex trade body, in a statement, said people expect that they will celebrate the Eid with festivity after a month-long fasting but the 48-hour non-stop hartal creates panic among people as they will have to return after Eid vacation.
“Hartal-like programmes will make the movement of people uncertain, disrupt commercial and academic activities and affect public life,” it said.
The FBCCI noted that domestic and foreign investment is being hindered because of disruptive political programmes like hartal.
The apex trade body also urged the political parties concerned to shun the path of conflict and violence, and adopt the policy of discussion for resolving all political problems.
Source: daily sun
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