As Eid comes every year, thousands of people, especially the working class, used to leave Dhaka by trucks to celebrate the festival with their families in villages. Though risky, day labourers, rickshaw-pullers and construction workers find it as their only way to travel by trucks during the Eid rush when bus tickets get scarce and costlier.
The truck drivers get an extra earning source before Eid. Drivers said that around two lakh people leave Dhaka by trucks during Eid season. The trucks coming from northern districts with vegetables and other goods are unloaded at Karwan Bazar and then return with the working class people.
Trucks that enter the city with goods return empty or half-loaded, giving opportunities to the poor passengers to go to their villages. Before Eid, the truck drivers raise the fare and take as many passengers as they can, ignoring the risk of accidents
It was seen Last Sunday in Capital that the number of vehicles and passenger traffic on the Savar road was low throughout the day, but it increased at night. The counters were crowded with passengers till late night. At this time, many people including women, men and children were seen taking risks and leaving on the way home. However, they claim that low-income people like them are going home on Eid with low fares in order to save extra rent.
Sabuj Mia, and many others like him were to return home. Sabuj Mia was accompanied by her parents and younger sister. They had to pay Tk 1500 to go to Sirajganj by truck. To go to their destination by bus, they had to pay at least Tk 700 to Tk 3000.
At least 12 other people were with Sabuj in the same truck. They were also going to their respective destinations on half fare. At that moment, Sabuj told the media that my father is a garment worker and I am a day laborer. My mother and younger sister stay at home. In a family of five, the family survives with what we earn. For almost three months we have been saving money for Eid celebrations. If we have to pay the bus fare, then what will we do for Eid, that's why we got on the truck. Day laborers like us rely on trucks.
Sabuj also said, we tried to go by bus first. All bus people are asking for Tk1000 instead of Tk 350. I could not convince the bus driver even by paying Tk 500. So I am forced to wait for the truck. We are going to Sirajganj by truck with the budget we have.
An official of the highway police, who did not want to be named said that low-income people are returning home like everyone else, taking risks. We are actually looking at traffic congestion. Low income people are going home in truck after truck. How many trucks will we stop?
Regarding the transport of passengers in trucks, Inspector (OC) of Savar Highway Police Station Ayub Ali told the media that after hearing the whole matter, he said to inquire about the whole matter.
ZH
