Bangladesh
Homebound Passengers Homebound people resort to walking as long-distance buses stall operation ahead of Eid
Dhaa, May 13: Long-distance passenger buses are closed across the country to prevent coronavirus infection. Even then, during the Eid holidays, working people are walking home from Dhaka on foot, with higher fares, in pickup vans, private cars, microbuses and motorbikes.
Police checkposts have been set up at the entrances around the capital to stop the flow of homebound people. However, setting up a check post is not going to stop the homebound people. Even though the pick-up van and microbus dropped the passengers at the check post and sent the car back, the people are walking some distance and running to the village house by some other means. As the suffering of the general population increases, so does the risk of coronavirus infection.
The capital's Gabtali, Aminbazar and Hemayetpur areas were visited from noon to afternoon on Wednesday (May 12th), with thousands of people searching for vehicles to get home. Most of the people were not seen to follow the hygiene rules. Many did not wear masks properly. Some did not wear masks again.
Almost everyone said, ‘I will go home and celebrate Eid with my mother. I have to go home anyway. I will walk as far as possible, get on the road with ambulances, truck-buses, microbuses, motorcycles whatever I can find. '
Sulaiman Biswas is walking from Gabtali to Aminbazar with big bags and children. He said, ‘I got off the bus at Gabtali. Then I heard that if you go to Aminbazar, you can get a car. I wanted to take a rickshaw from Gabtali to Aminbazar but I was forced to walk for 150 rupees. '
Nazneen Begum has a big bag in one hand. Another medium size bag in the other hand. Started walking from Gabtali. He said, ‘The village home is Kushtia. The husband died a year ago. Little children are waiting for me in the village. That's why it's hard to go home. '
Meanwhile, a man named Maruf Hossain has left for Meherpur. For now, he has fixed a motorcycle for Rs 1,000 to reach the ferry terminal. From there you will cross the ferry and go the rest of the way in another way.
Thousands of people have left for Eid with their families. They want to reach their destination at any cost by putting a smile on the face of family members.
