To avoid tailbacks on highways, many people have already sent their families to their villages ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, while official Eid travel by private bus operators and Bangladesh Railway will begin on Friday.
Every year, some eight million people leave Dhaka to celebrate Eid in their hometowns and villages.
Bangla Tribune correspondents in different districts report that tailbacks are currently smaller compared to the same time in previous years, but the home-goers' rush is likely to begin from Friday.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival in Bangladesh, is expected to be celebrated on the first week of June.
Improved infrastructure
Traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Cumilla highway seems to have vanished, and commuters are now able to travel the route in 90 minutes, thanks to the newly-inaugurated Meghna-Gumti Bridge. The trip used to take eight to ten hours.
Bus drivers M Kamal Uddin and M Monirul Islam said they can now travel Dhaka-Cumilla very easily because of the two new bridges.
Daudkandi Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Kalam Azad said there are no tailbacks because of the four-lane bridge.
Additionally, there is no tailback on the 53km area of Narsingdi on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, and the road is in good condition.
Narsingdi's Roads and Highways Directorate Executive Engineer Mofazzal Haider said patrol teams are ready to resolve any problems, while Dhaka Police Range Deputy Inspector General Habibur Rahman echoed this about the areas under his purview.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Jedan Al Musa said no vehicles without fitness documents would be allowed to travel on the highways.
Choke points
However, passengers on the only highway that connects the northwest part of Bangladesh to the capital, the Dhaka-Tangail highway, may face large amounts of traffic during their Eid journeys, as the road is still under construction.
Some new projects have been linked to the Dhaka-Tangail Four-Lane project, prolonging its construction time.
Work on the four-lane highway is underway on the 70km of the Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu bridge highway, including 46km on the Tangail side.
Almost 8,000 vehicles from 23 districts use this highway during the Eid holidays – sometimes five times higher than normal usage.
Tangail Police Super Sanjit Kumer Roy said a team of about 750 police will work on the highways, while 200 ansar members will be on duty to reduce traffic congestion on the highways.
Passengers travelling on the Netrokona-Mymensingh highway may also face trouble, as government agencies are repairing a 13km-stretch of road in Shyamganj Bazar.
Locals alleged that the contractor of the repair work is delaying the work, and 15 areas need repairs. Currently, other roads being repaired include: Bhola-Barishal Lakshmipur, Bhola-Banglabazar, Doulotkhan-Tojumuddin and Charfashion-Betua-Dokkhin Aicha.
Roads and highways division officials said the work may be completed before Eid-ul-Adha, and they will be filling up the potholes before Eid-ul-Fitr.
Bhola Roads Division Executive Engineer Pangkaj Bhoumik expects to complete those projects by June this year.
Meanwhile, Munshiganj local administration has prepared by engaging volunteers and keeping a diversion road to keep the Dhaka-Khulna journeys hassle-free.
Dhaka-Mawa highway’s Hashara Police Outpost In-Charge Golam Morshed Talukder said the Eid journey has not yet begun, so the highways are free of traffic.
There will be 500 police officials along a 36km-length of Manikganj highway. Some 128 close circuit cameras will be installed on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, while trucks carrying general goods will be barred for three days before and after Eid to keep traffic flowing.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation Aricha Office Manager Ajmal Hossain said there will be 20 ferries on the route.
Ensuring hassle-free journeys
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will operate a central control room in Dhaka, around-the-clock from May 30 to June 9, to ensure smooth journeys for home-goers during the Eid vacation.
Bangladesh Police has instructed officers to verify drivers' licences, buses' fitness certificates and other vehicle documents prior to each Eid journey, to ensure a hassle-free and safe journey for holidaymakers.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary said in a directive to police officials that bus helpers may not replace drivers, and initiatives will be taken so that no vehicles carry passengers on the roofs of buses.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said travelling will be much easier and more comfortable this Eid.
“I have suspended the piling work on the Gazipur highway till Eid, so that might cause some inconveniences. Otherwise, all other roads are functional,” he said.