BANGLADESH: Thousands crowd public transport to head home for Eid

Record ID: 262565

  • Title: BANGLADESH: Thousands crowd public transport to head home for Eid
  • Date: 28th November 2009
  • Summary: DHAKA, BANGLADESH (NOVEMBER 26, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RICKSHAWS MOVING TOWARDS FERRY TERMINAL SADARGHAT FERRY TERMINAL IN DHAKA VARIOUS OF BOATS CARRYING PEOPLE ON BOARD FERRY (SOUNDBITE) (Bengali ) DHAKA RESIDENT NILUFAR YASMIN SAYING: "I'm going home to celebrate Eid with my relatives, but the situation is that the ferries are full of people. Even the roof is
  • Embargoed: 13th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bangladesh
  • Country: Bangladesh
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAC7HIDAB4B2ZTRFQR1C8MRFOES
  • Story Text: Thousands of people scrambled to leave the Bangladeshi capital for their home provinces starting Thursday evening (November 26), to celebrate Eid-al-Adha with relatives.
    A rush of commuters caused huge traffic jams in Dhaka.
    Bus and train stations were packed with people heading for the three-day holiday, that began on Friday (November 27).
    Even the roofs of trains and ferries were occupied.
    "I'm going home to celebrate Eid with my relatives, but the situation is that the ferries are full of people. Even the roof is full, so I've taken a boat to get on a ferry," Dhaka resident Nilufar Yasmin said.
    Except for hospitals, fire service stations and a few media houses, almost all offices, commercial establishments and educational institutions will remain closed during the Eid vacation.
    Railway, ferry and bus companies increased their services to accommodate the homebound crowds, but it doesn't seem to satisfy the demand.
    "I'm trying to get home to celebrate Eid, but the train is full of people. I've tried to climb on the roof. Now I am waiting for the next train," commuter Mohammad Manik said.
    The Rapid Action Battalion deployed 7,000 additional forces--2,000 in the capital--and set up 98 camps across the country to ensure security during the Eid.
    Dhaka police have also deployed 8,000 additional personnel, over 200 patrol teams and plainclothes policemen in the capital, and installed 100 check points.
    Eid-al-Adha is the second largest religious festival for Muslims.
    Known as the festival of sacrifice, it commemorates Abraham's obedience to God and willingness to offer his own son.
    Dhaka's sanitation authorities have made preparations to remove the waste expected from the sacrificing of animals usually practiced during Eid.
    The sales of sacrificial animals in the city saw a slight decrease this year, as prices have gone up.
    ENDS.
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