Sumaiya, who intends to go to Rangpur to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with her family, came to the counter to collect bus ticket right after sehri.

Her face lit up after she succeeded following a long wait in the queue at the Gabtoli Bus Counter in Dhaka.

As the advanced bus ticket sales for the upcoming Eid begun this morning, many others like Sumaiya arrived at the bus counters in Gabtoli and Shyamoli areas early and queued up for tickets.

Some of them got tickets for the days of their choice, some had to compromise and buy tickets for different dates due to lack of availability. However, it was less crowded at the counters today compared to this time in previous years.

Gabtoli bus counter. Photo: Prabir Das

"I am happy that I will be able to celebrate Eid with my family. The crowd is lighter at the counter than other years," Sumaiya told The Daily Star at the Gabtoli bus counter around 8:00am.

Monir Hossain came to collect tickets for his journey to Naogaon. He usually pays Tk 700 to go there by a Hanif Paribahan bus. But today he had to buy a ticket up to the last stoppage of the route for which he paid Tk 840.

"I had to pay Tk 140 more than usual. But it still is a pleasure as I will get to spend Eid with my family," Monir told The Daily Star.

Belal Hossain came to Shyamoli counter for tickets to Kurigram around 5:00am. He intended to get a ticket for April 21, but could not.

Shyamoli bus counter. Photo: Prabir Das

"I wanted to travel on April 21. As tickets for that day were sold out, I had to purchase tickets for the day before," Belal said.

"The sale of tickets started at 6:00am. Compared to other times, there were fewer people at the counters," said Ismail Khan, in-charge of selling tickets at the Hanif counter in Gabtoli.

"We are selling tickets online this time. Moreover, advance tickets are being sold at our other counters as well. Pressure at this counter may be less for that reason," he said.

Private bus operators started selling advance tickets today. Tickets for April 16 and later dates are being sold.

Advance train ticket sales also began today.