People started streaming out of the major cities, including the capital, on the first day of the weeklong Eid-ul-Fitr holiday that began on Tuesday amid complaints of charging of extra bus fares and a crisis of public transports.

Some bus operators and workers alleged that they had to run fewer buses and charging extra fare in this Eid due to a crisis of fuel oil.

Many passengers were seen waiting for buses or other transports, including even goods-carrying vehicles for travelling at cheaper rates.

On the day, vehicular movement on almost all the major highways, including Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge, Dhaka–Rangpur, Dhaka–Rajshahi, Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, and Nagarbari–Bogura, across the country was normal.

From the evening, however, traffic congestions were seen on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway from Tongi to the Bypass area and at Chandana in Gazipur.

Traffic congestions were also seen from Jatrabari to Siddhirganj areas on the Dhaka–Chittagong Highway after the evening.

Journeys by railway and waterway were smooth while many passengers were seen travelling on train roofs.

The date of Eid-ul-fitr, one of the two biggest festivals of Muslims, may fall on March 21 depending on moon sighting.

Earlier, the government has announced the weeklong holiday — starting from Tuesday (March 17) and to end on March 23.

Since the morning, people started gathering at the capital’s bus, train and launch terminals for moving to their rural ancestral homes in other districts to celebrate the Eid with their kith and kin.

At Saidabad and Gabtali inter-district bus terminals, passengers alleged that bus  companies charged them extra fares, ranging from Tk100 to Tk900.

At the Gabtali terminal, Hanif Enterprise staff Md Roni, also a bus agent for Ahad Enterprise, said that they were charging Tk1,300 to Tk1,600 for a Dhaka-Rangpur ticket while the regular fare was between between Tk600 and Tk700.

Rangpur-bound passenger Md Mostafizur alleged that an agent asked for Tk1,100 for a ticket against the regular fare of Tk 700.

Mohammad Alauddin, another agent, said that the fare was higher as the number of buses came down to about half of the normal due to the ongoing fuel oil crisis.

Agents said that they received Tk50 to Tk100 as commission on ticket sales.

Patuakhali-bound passenger Mohammad Hossain, standing at the Saidabad terminal at noon with his luggage, alleged that Hanif Paribahan staff asked Tk1,000 for a Barishal ticket while the regular fare was Tk700.

He said that he was waiting for buses of other companies to buy a cheaper ticket.

Sudipta Pratap, a Dhaka College master’s student, alleged that the Saad Paribahan buses were charging Tk100 more than the regular fare for going to Magura.

Abdur Rahman, the counter manager of Purbasha Paribahan on the Magura route, claimed that they had hired the Saad Paribahan buses due to shortage of their own buses and therefore they had increased the fare by Tk100 only.

Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association general secretary Saiful Islam admitted that they had received allegations that some transports, including Hanif and Shymoli companies, were charging extra, adding that a mobile court fined various counters Tk17,000 at Saidabad terminal for different irregularities.

On the Aminbazar Bridge, many passengers were seen waiting to get on ordinary buses or trucks for paying cheaper rates.

From Kamalapur rail station, hundreds of passengers crowded trains to leave the capital from the morning.

Many passengers were seen travelling illegally on train roof.

Most of the trains ran on schedule on the day without any major disruptions.

A good number of passengers were seen at the Dhaka river port at Sadarghat in the capital since morning, who left without facing any major hurdles like congestion.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority joint director (current charge) at the port Md Mobarok Hossain Mozumder said that the pressure of passnegers would increase on March 18 and 19.

While visiting the port in the morning, state minister for shipping Md Rajib Ahsan said that the launch fare has been set at 10 per cent less than the fixed fare to ensure comfortable Eid journeys.

New Age correspondent in Sirajganj reported that on Tuesday, traffic flow remained smooth and uninterrupted at Hatikumrul — an important junction connecting Dhaka–Rangpur, Dhaka–Rajshahi, and Nagarbari–Bogura highways.

While CNG-powered auto-rickshaws, battery-powered vehicles, and other small vehicles were being controlled near the crossing, some areas farther away still showed relatively unregulated movement.

Officer-in-charge of the Hatikumrul highway police station, Ismail Hossain, said that even with increased vehicle pressure, orderly movement was being maintained on all roads.

Syed Riaz Uddin, executive engineer (maintenance and operations) of the Jamuna Bridge Authority said that there was no congestion at either end of the bridge despite increased traffic pressure.

‘In the last 24 hours, 35,658 vehicles crossed the bridge, generating toll revenue of Tk 28.45 million,’ he added.

New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported that passengers were seen crossing the Dhaka-Mawa expressway smoothly throughout the day while there was also no traffic congestion at the toll plazas on the Padma Bridge.

Many passengers, however, alleged that taking advantage of the Eid various transport companies were charging more than the fixed fare.

New Age correspondent in Barishal reported that road transport and bridges railways and shipping minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said that no major traffic congestion had so far been reported while people were travelling comfortably.

He said this while inaugurating the 283.188 metres-long Goma Bridge over the River Rangamatia connecting Bakerganj in Barishal with Dumki in Patuakhali.