Abdul Kuddus arrived at Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the capital at 11:40am yesterday from Fakirapool just to book a place on the deck of a launch for his nephew and family members. "Every year, we have to face huge competition just to get a place. My nephew is a private service holder, so I came here to book a place for them,” Kuddus said.

“I have managed this,” he told this correspondent, showing a bed-sheet he had placed on the floor of the launch, Prince of Hasan and Hossain, plying between Amtali upazila of Barguna from Dhaka.

Although, the launch was scheduled to leave the terminal at 5:00pm, when this correspondent boarded it at 12:00pm, some 70 to 80 others people had already taken their seats and were ready to  go home ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.

Visiting the terminal yesterday, this correspondent found many people leaving Dhaka to celebrate the festival with their family members at home but the rush is yet to gain momentum.

Launch owners said home rush will reach its peak from Thursday, the last day before Eid vacation.

Usually, 60-70 launches ply across 41 routes, mostly to the country's southern regions from Dhaka's Sadarghat. The number doubles during Eid festivals to carry 15 to 20 lakh people, according to transport operators and government officials.

Akbar Hossain, a clerk of the Amtali-bound launch said, “During last Eid (Eid-ul Fitr), the launch was loaded with passengers in the morning but this year we are yet to get such response mainly because of the only three-day leave.”

They were charging Tk 350 for deck, instead of the usual TK 300 while the government-fixed rate is Tk 365, he claimed.

AKM Azad Hossain, supervisor of Barisal-bound MV Tasriv said they hoped the rush will gain momentum from Wednesday and will reach its peak when garments factories close for the holidays.

Mamun-ur-Rashid, a member of the board of directors of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carriers) Association, said “Business is not well as of now. But seeing the situation in the ferry ghat, we guess there will be more passengers when the Eid rush will reach its peak.”

Reaz ul Kabir, director of Surovi Group of Company that runs several launches on different routes, also echoed this view.

To understand the conditions of Paturia and Daulatdia ferry ghats, it was found that passenger buses were taking 10 to 12 hours to cross the Padma river at both ends while it took cattle-laden trucks three to four days, hence forming long queues.

Several passengers alleged that launch operators have increased the fares, especially of VIP, first and second class cabins by Tk 200 to Tk 600 to earn extra money before Eid.

“I have bought a ticket of double cabin (AC) of Sundarbans-12 with Tk 2200 to go to Barisal, which was Tk 1800 during normal time,” Dipan Roy told this correspondent yesterday.

Asked, Reaz ul Kabir said throughout the year, they charged passengers less than the government-fixed rates as they earned from up and down trips.

But during the Eid season, they sell tickets at the fixed rates since they only make one-way trips.

Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, president of the association, said they are ready to carry people to their homes and have held a series of meetings with the government and law enforcement officials to ensure safety.

About the common allegation of overloading, he said people are now more cautious and they try to avoid travelling on the roof. “Besides, we would not allow overloading and let an accident occur because crores of taka is involved with it.”

Zainal Abedin, joint director of Marine Safety and Traffic Management Department of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, said the number of launch trips have already increased to carry more people.

There were 67 trips on August 22 and 81 on Sunday, he said, adding that they have taken all out preparation to ensure safe journey for all.

There will be 250 regular and marine police at the terminal and three mobile courts will conduct their operation to stop any sorts of irregularities, he added.