Thousands of people continued to leave Dhaka on Thursday, the second day of Eid-ul-Azha, just ahead of the nationwide 14-day strict lockdown that begins at 6am on Friday.

Since the morning, the streets in the capital have remained busy with hundreds of vehicles including private cars and microbuses. 

Before the strict lockdown resumes, several thousand people returned to Dhaka after celebrating Eid with the near ones at home.

In this context, the transport workers were charging unfairly, several passengers told FP.

Passengers from the nearby districts were seen entering the capital hiring CNG-run auto-rickshaws and pick-up vans as well.

Many said that they were going to their villages on the second day of Eid to avoid the stress and sufferings of travelling before Eid.Shima Das, who was leaving the city in the morning, said: “I don’t have much to do during the lockdown. So, I am going home in Chandpur.”

While waiting for a bus of the Padma Exclusive at Saidabad bus stand along with his brother, Shima said: “I had to pay double rickshaw fare. I am going home today [Thursday] just to avoid the Eid-rush, but everyone is charging almost double.”

Another passenger Sharmin Akhter, who came from Naogaon, said she had to pay Tk1,200 as bus fare that was usually Tk450 to Tk500.

People at the bus counters of Gabtoli bus stand told this correspondent that they were charging double as to comply with the government order to carry half passengers than the usual time.

Moreover, several passengers said the bus staff were charging an extra Tk100 to Tk200 terming it “Eid salami”, alongside the additional fare for the pandemic.

“From Gabtoli to Mirpur 1, rickshaw pullers are charging Tk80, which is merely Tk40 to Tk50 in other days,” said Joy, a student who was struggling to manage a transport to go to Kalabagan.

Passengers reach Dhaka on a CNG-run auto-rickshaws Thursday Dhaka Tribune

Visiting several areas in Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Gabtoli, Mirpur and Azimpur, this correspondent found the same scenario prevailing everywhere.

On July 13, the government decided to ease the lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days due to the Eid festivity. The lockdown restrictions were lifted a day later. 

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Thursday said that the new lockdown would be stricter than the one imposed last time. Members of the police, the Bangladesh Border Guard and the army will patrol the streets to enforce the restrictions.